Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Enhance Inner Resilience And Self-Esteem: An Exploration Utilizing Expressive Arts Therapy In A Curriculum-Based Approach With Asian Immigrant Adolescents, Kevin Lin

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Asian and new immigrant adolescents often encounter difficulty transitioning to a new culture and environment foreign to their previous understandings. The clash between individualism and collectivism can impact their ability to adjust into the host culture, leading to limited coping skills when faced with acculturation difficulties. This capstone thesis utilized the integration of expressive arts therapy as part of a curriculum designed to help Asian immigrant adolescents build inner resilience and self-esteem to cope with immigration. Through further research on immigration, collectivism, individualism, creative expression, improvisational performance, art-based interventions, and expressive arts therapy, a curriculum-based approach was implemented in the …