Mental and Social Health Commons^™

A Proposal For An Art Therapy Intervention For The Reduction Of Dementia Caregiver Stress, Eileen Douglas

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to develop an art therapy intervention program to test the efficacy of art therapy in the mitigation of stress among informal caregivers who are caring for individuals suffering from dementia. The design of this program is a prospective, randomized, controlled study of informal caregivers. This program will run for a period of 2 months, with a 30 day follow-up session. The study is designed to recruit at least 20 participants. Participants will be randomized into two separate groups, an art therapy intervention group and a controlled art making group. The Zarit Burden Interview, Cohen …

A Proposed Bereavement Art Therapy Group For Children Who Experienced A Loss, Laurie Mcarthur

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Bereavement, grief, and loss have been topics of interest to many individuals (Bowlby, 1969; Freud, 1917; Kubler-Ross, 1969) over the years, whereas child bereavement has become a more recent topic of interest. Recently, however, researchers (Lowenstein, 2006; Rogers, 2007; Trozzi, 1999) have gained an awareness of the importance of child bereavement as it pertains to developmental level, support systems, and circumstances surrounding the loss. Typically, both non-clinical and clinical interventions are used as forms of treatment for children who are experiencing grief and loss. Art therapy provides individuals with the opportunity to express themselves through their artwork. Individuals suffering from …

The Effect Of Art Therapy On The Working Memory Of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Kelly N. Lee

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the effect of a short-term art therapy intervention on the working memory and behavior of male children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The methodology was quasi-experimental, involving a two-group controlled design with three objective pretest and posttest measures and one observer behavior report. Four subjects ages 7 to 9 were recruited for this study, and they were randomly divided between the experimental (i.e. art making) and control (i.e. board game play) conditions. Each subject participated in four individual sessions with the investigator, and completed two working memory measures at pretest and posttest administration. One parent for each child …

A Study Of Artwork By Individuals With Eating Disorders, Michelle L. Mong

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study explored formal elements and content of 200 images created by eating disordered individuals to identify common themes or content. Images were found on 24 websites containing eating disordered artwork. Gathered artwork was viewed on a laptop and analyzed using methods of content analysis. After categories of formal elements and content were entered into a spreadsheet, percentages of categories and subcategories were calculated. The majority of images, 96.5%, were created with representational, rather than abstract, content. Other high percentages were in the subcategories of drawings (67.5%), vertical orientation (63%), color (61%), and partial figures (53%). Common themes noted in …

Philosophical Concerns: Implications For Art Therapy, Anzhela Akbarova

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Throughout centuries, philosophers have asked and attempted to answer questions that address human concerns: identity establishment, search for purpose in life, fear of nonexistence, spirituality, and relationships with other people in the world. Some psychologists and arts therapists have also acknowledged the existence of these concerns. This thesis is a comparative analysis of philosophical literature and concludes that art therapists should acknowledge human concerns in their theory and practice.

An Art-Based Self-Study Of Immersion In Amish Culture: Implications For Art Therapists, Alison R. Hunt

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Literature reveals that cross cultural experiences can be beneficial to therapists in terms of personal growth and cultural competency (Finlay, 2005). This heuristic study employed Moustakas’ (1990) six stages of initial engagement, immersion, incubation, illumination, explication, and creative synthesis to examine the impact of immersion in Amish culture on my sense of myself as an art therapist. Data collection included keeping a visual journal and making art during the immersion stage. The data was evaluated using qualitative techniques of categorizing, interpreting, and integrating (Ansdell & Pavlicevic, 2001). Themes which emerged from the artwork were reported in a narrative format and …

A Grant Proposal For An Art Therapy Open Studio For The Homeless Population Of Hampton Roads, Virginia, Jessica Renée Chevalier

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

It has been shown that community arts programs for the homeless can aid in the development of problem-solving skills, raise self-esteem, facilitate the development of valuable workplace skills, and help the individual feel more connected to his or her community. Though homelessness is a tremendous problem in Hampton Roads, Virginia, there are currently no community art programs devoted to assisting this population. In addition to summarizing other successful community art programs, this paper explains just how valuable and necessary an art therapy based community art program, such as the one being proposed here, would be to the communities of Hampton …

Proposal For An Art-Based Program Promoting Positive Identity Formation In Sexual Minority Youth, Anthony Philip Stroud

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

According to current scholarly research, there is a paucity of literature aimed at preventing negative identity formation for sexual minority adolescents. Unfortunately, most literature aims at the treatment of the consequences of negative minority identity formation. More important, strengthening positive minority identity formation, particularly in reference to sexual minority adolescents, needs to be a primary goal of current research. This paper provides an arts-based program plan for sexual minority adolescents grappling with identity formation. Moreover, this proposed program plan aims at utilizing art therapy and museum education to prevent negative identity formation amongst the participants.

An African-American Breast Cancer Survivor’S Journey With The Use Of Visual Journaling, Kristen Spellman

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This qualitative case study guided one female breast cancer survivor through a 6-week art therapy visual journaling experience. The art therapist taught the participant about the purpose of visual journaling and the potential benefits, as well as the basic methods used to journal. Qualitative data consisted of the visual journal entry (containing both images and writing) that she made in each session and entries made between sessions. Through content analysis, the following themes emerged from the data: breast cancer treatment, anger, family, body image, and depression. The sessions appeared to be beneficial to the participant, and she was enthusiastic and …

Art Therapy And Anorexia: A Heuristic Self-Study From Treatment To Career, Katie Kiskinis

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this self-study was to explore the personal experience had during treatment for anorexia nervosa that included an art therapy component and what impact this has had on subsequent recovery, current healthy functioning, and the career decision to become an art therapist.

The total duration of the study was 13 weeks. Thirty-minute reflection sessions supplemented with writing were scheduled for the first four days of the study, during which there was a submersion in artwork made during treatment (Treatment Artwork) for anorexia nervosa and any related memories. On the fourth day, eight themes were identified to be the …

De-Mystifying The Magic: Meaningful Moments In Music Therapy When Working With Children That Have Severe Special Needs, Kayla C. Daly

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The purpose of my study is to explore the “magic” that occurs in these music therapy sessions, and to discover what this word means for those who use it. For the purpose of this study we will define “magic” as having the occurrence of meaningful outcomes or moments in music therapy sessions. This study will attempt to reveal methods and techniques that are being used by music therapists to further facilitate the therapeutic process for children with severe special needs in their lives and everyday experiences. This study included naturalistic inquiry and phenomenological inquiry.

Art Therapy Support Group For Siblings Of Children With Autism, Christine Mccann Giardina

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Siblings of children with autism are at an increased risk for psychosocial and adjustment difficulties due to the extra stresses and frustrations they often experience. This qualitative, phenomenological multiple case study explored the unique experiences of siblings of children with autism in an art therapy support group. Seven 40 minute art therapy sessions, occurring approximately once per month, were implemented to address the specific concerns of siblings of children with autism. This study included three participants who agreed to share their experiences and their reactions to the sibling art therapy support group. Case reports were generated from session observations, semi-structured …

The Role Of The Arts Toward Healing Trauma And Building Resilience In The Palestinian Community, Yousef Al-Ajarma

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This study has investigated the sources of resilience in a sample of Palestinians who experienced the first Intifada and are now studying in the United States. The study found that family and community support, the pursuit of an education, and participation in artistic activities all contribute to individual resilience among Palestinians. In addition, political awareness and activity are another source of resilience, because they help individuals living under the Occupation to find meaning in their life and make sense of their struggles. Currently, young people in Palestine are at risk of developing psychological trauma from exposure to the violence of …

Phenomenology Of Embodied Dreamwork With Puerto Rican Women: A Dissertation, Lourdes F. Brache-Tabar

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The author investigated the experience of embodied dreamwork. Participants were eight Puerto Rican women who were chronically ill, of low socioeconomic status, who lived in Boston. The data were analyzed using transcendental phenomenology. Each participant engaged in one embodied dreamwork–unstructured interview session lasting approximately 1.5 hours. In addition, each participant drew a picture of how she felt after the dreamwork interview. This snowball, purposive sample gave detailed information about how they experienced embodied dreamwork. The participants’ statements were grouped into themes: (a) sense of place—environment, surroundings, spatiality; (b) the players—self, others; (c) plot; (d) in the sea of emotions—naming affective …

Mindfulness Meditation And Art Making: Implications For Art Therapy, Susan Kathleen Mahl

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Meditation is being integrated into various fields to aid with healing, especially mindfulness meditation as it focuses on total awareness of the present. This thesis describes a self study that used a heuristic methodology to investigate the effects of mindfulness meditation on this researcher. I progressed through the six phases of heuristic research in a period seven weeks. At the beginning of the study, mindfulness meditation was practiced twice a week for a time period of 30 minutes to one hour for three weeks, followed by art making and reflections. Next, I practiced mindfulness meditation three times a week for …

Using Art Therapy To Increase Self-Efficacy Beliefs Of Homeless Mothers Living In A Shelter, Mandi Elizabeth Wines

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Literature reveals that homelessness is inherently a situation where desired outcomes are less likely than unfavorable outcomes, and, as such, the concepts of learned hopelessness, disempowerment, and low self-efficacy are especially relevant. Self-efficacy has been found to affect one’s motivation, performance, coping, self-esteem, emotional arousal, and behavior. Homeless women who possess a stronger sense of self-efficacy are more likely to actively engage in employment and housing searches and spend less time in temporary shelters than those with low self-efficacy.

Although aspects of this problem have been studied no specific intervention models have proven effective in increasing homeless women’s self-efficacy. Literature …

Attachment Styles And Children In Foster Care: A Study Involving Art Therapy Evaluation, Abigail Johnson

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This case study explored the attachment style and perceptions of family, from the perspective of children in the foster care system, through the use of art therapy evaluative methods. The participants for this study included two half-sisters in the second and fourth grades. The Art Therapy-Projective Imagery Assessment (AT-PIA) was adapted and used to construct a well-rounded understanding of each client. Within the adapted AT-PIA, the Human Figure Drawing and the Bird’s Nest Drawing were evaluated using rating schemes. A dyad session was held with the two participants, where a Safe Place Sculpture was created. Review of the artwork revealed …

The Application Of Art Therapy Techniques To The Resolution Of Conflict, Maggie Hart

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Conflict is present in innumerable forms in current society. As a result, a variety of methods of conflict resolution exist, both constructive and destructive. The prevalence of conflict in our everyday lives warrants further study about improved means of resolution. Art therapy theory and techniques have much to offer the process of conflict resolution. Currently, a body of research about using art to explore past or future conflicts does exist. However, this literature lacks a thorough examination of using art in order to process and resolve current conflicts, involving all parties involved in the conflict.

The current study explores the …

Life Drawing With Gross Anatomy Medical Students And Implications For Art Therapy, Elliott Addesso

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

It is important to incorporate humanities training into medical education in order to enhance the potential for humane and ethical interactions among physicians. In this study, a life drawing studio course was led by an art therapy graduate student to explore the effects of a life drawing course on medical students concurrently enrolled in Gross Anatomy. Based on students’ perceptions of their experience in the life drawing class, theoretical implications for the practice of art therapy in studio applications were discussed.

Five medical students participated in the course on a voluntary, non-credit basis. The course consisted of seven meetings and …

An Art Therapy Approach To Addressing Burnout Prevention Among Pediatric Healthcare Providers, Hoilam Tang

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to develop an art therapy based burnout prevention program for pediatric healthcare providers who work directly with chronically and/or terminally ill children. This program will run for a period of four months. Eight sessions were designed to implement self-care skills, promote a supportive working environment and professional boundaries, address grief and loss, and process work-related stress and distress in order to reduce burnout and compassion fatigue among pediatric healthcare providers. This program was designed for 5 to 7 healthcare providers who have similar experiences and work duties. This program will run as a peer …

Exploring American Indian Adolescents’ Needs Through A Community-Driven Study, Emily Gordon Basto

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The current higher rates of substance use and abuse for Native American adolescents compared to non-Natives is an issue that requires attention. There are a variety of risk factors that lead to this current situation, including discrimination and acculturation pressures. Past treatment options have been limited with American Indians and have not incorporated community involvement. Art therapy has been utilized in substance abuse programs and with American Indian populations; however, art therapy has been limited in taking a community-driven approach. As art therapy and community involvement are seen as culturally relevant, together they may serve as a model for assessing …

The Chakra Energy System And Art Therapy: A Heuristic Study, Linda Scalise

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The chakra system, an Eastern philosophy relating to an individual’s health, energy, and consciousness, has been integrated into the healing practices of psychology, meditation, yoga, and alternative medicine. Dale (2005), Judith (1996), and Myss (1996) described the chakra energy system as focal points embedded within the human energy system that regulate all components of the self. Researchers in complementary therapies and energy medicine have long been interested in how the integration of this system affects the progression of disease, human behavior, and emotional disturbances. However, although rich in symbolism and metaphor, no literature has been found demonstrating the use of …

The Effects Of Coloring Books On Children’S Drawings: Implications For Art Therapy, Sarah Elizabeth Garrison

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study aimed to test the effects of coloring books on children’s drawings and relate the findings to art therapy practice. A review of the relevant literature revealed a widely accepted theory of drawing development, in which all individuals pass through a series of sequential stages of drawing. These stages varied slightly from author to author, but were all similar to the originally developed stages of drawing development first outlined by Viktor Lowenfeld (Lowenfeld & Brittain, 1987).

In art therapy, these stages are applied to the drawings of children to assess developmental level. Art is also utilized in art therapy …

Reflective Visual Journaling During Art Therapy And Counseling Internships, Sarah P. Deaver

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Visual journaling is thought to promote students' critical reflection upon their previous learning, their current experiences, and their ongoing professional growth. Research supports the value of written journals as educational tools that encourage reflection, but the potential for visual journaling to facilitate reflection has not been explored through systematic inquiry until now.

This qualitative multiple case study explored four art therapy students' and four counseling students' responses to visual journaling during their internships. They maintained their journals throughout one 15-week academic semester, and were interviewed four times over the course of the study. Data consisted of transcribed interviews and photographs …

Reflective Materials And The Use Of Glitter In Art Therapy, Amber Dee Mazza

Art Therapy | Master's Theses in Print

This paper hypothesizes that glitter is an important media in art therapy. This research asked the question, what is the significance and clinical application of glitter in art therapy? Glitter is a commonly used art material and research on the subject matter is absent. The method used was survey research with quantitative and qualitative questions. Seven hundred and fifty eight members of the American Art Therapy Association completed the survey. Glitter has significant meaning in reference to Cathy Moon’s theory of materiality, and can be used to bring light to client art work.

Art Made By Native American Women With Breast Cancer, Hanni Woelk

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study sought to find recurrent themes in artwork made by Native American women with breast cancer. The hypothesis of this analysis stated that a theme concerning body image would emerge. Subjects were found through the “Healing Pathways: Art for Survivors” workshop in which art therapy tasks were given to Native American cancer survivors. Analysis of the artwork occurred using situational content analysis from a grounded theory perspective. Results found many recurrent themes in the participant’s artwork, but did not support the hypothesis that body image was a concern. Themes concerning the self, anxiety, religion, and the body were found …

Guidelines For Group Art Therapy Videos: Connecting Group Process With Production, Sarah D. E. Newton

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Group art therapy professionals, educators, and students have limited resources available to enhance learning and professional practice. Video productions and literature about group art therapy have seemingly decreased over the past 10 years. Due to the limited number of group art therapy videos, few resources exist for training purposes. This study employed an exploratory mixed-method design with a preliminary qualitative analysis of currently available group psychotherapy and group art therapy videos and follow-up quantitative analysis of a needs assessment from group art therapy educators. It was hypothesized that the survey results will demonstrate a generalized dissatisfaction among art therapy educators …

Integrating Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy Into Art Therapy: Depression Treatment In Juvenile Justice Settings, Elizabeth Illig

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This single case mixed methods research study integrated Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) into art therapy in the treatment of incarcerated adolescents experiencing a depressed mood. The review of the literature focused on depression treatment as approached by REBT practitioners and art therapists, and revealed that an integration of these approaches had not been previously attempted. Before the study commenced the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale-2 was administered to both participants. Then individual REBT-enhanced art therapy sessions were conducted. After the conclusion of these sessions the RADS-2 was re-administered, an exit interview conducted, and a formal analysis of the artwork was …

An Exploration Of The Effects Of An Arm Movement Intervention Upon Artwork: Implications For Art Therapy, Alicia K. Hurst

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Why have pioneers of art therapy and modern art therapists discussed the importance of body movement in art therapy and yet not one study has been conducted to test its benefits? How can an art therapist overlook body movement in an art therapy session when one must move in order to create art? Observing the need for more research in this area, this study explored how body movement may affect art using one of Florence Cane’s (1951/1983) arm exercises and the scribble technique.

Four adult volunteers were individually videotaped while completing the scribble technique, then the arm exercise, and then …

A Content Analysis Of Acculturating Hispanics’ Artwork: Implications For Art Therapy, Sarah Bufogle

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Research in art therapy and other mental health fields on Hispanics is limited. In an attempt to further understand Hispanics and the impact of the acculturation process, this study explores similarities and/or differences between the content of drawings of Hispanics who have lived in the United States for 7 years or less and non-Hispanics. Participants consisted of 9 Hispanics and 11 non-Hispanics. A content analysis of the Free Choice Drawing was utilized to determine graphic differences between drawings of both groups. It was hypothesized that there might be considerable visual differences between drawings by acculturating Hispanics and by non-Hispanics.

The …