Art Therapy Commons^™

The Potential Use Of Comics As A Medium In Art Therapy Practice: A Qualitative Heuristic Study, Emma Claire Reilly

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

There exists very little research on the efficacy of different processes and materials in the field of Art Therapy and no research on the use of comics in art therapy. This study explored the potential use of comics in art therapy practice through a qualitative heuristic design. The researcher utilized various processes and materials to explore comic-making, with consideration towards the potential feasibility and accessibility of this medium. Comic art was created over a 14-week time period, accompanied by written reflections about the effect of the various processes and materials used as well as the effect of creating each comic. …

A Comparison Of Human Figures Drawn By Hiv Positive And Hiv Negative Children In Limuru, Kenya, Ruth H. Rand

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The proposed study aimed to determine psychological sequelae of HIV as manifested in the HFD. The goal of this study was to compare HFDs drawn by Kenyan children with and without HIV, using a modified form of the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) (Gantt & Tabone, 1998). It was hypothesized that statistically significant differences between the two groups of drawings would exist. Based upon differences between the two groups of HFDs, inferences were made regarding the effect of HIV on children living in Kenya. Research suggests that there are significant negative ramifications of HIV diagnosis including depressive symptoms, decreased …

Process Painting With A Woman Diagnosed With Breast Cancer, Jaimee Foster

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This qualitative single case study examines the reaction of one woman diagnosed with breast cancer as she engages in process painting, while undergoing treatment. Process painting involves the continued alteration of a single image over a period of time, either through painting over or chipping away at the current image. Over a period of six weeks, one woman was invited to engage in this process, in order to examine whether the process would have a positive effect on either the physical or emotional symptoms associated with breast cancer treatment. This study focused on the themes of each session, the participant’s …

Spreading Awareness Of Art Therapy To Undergraduate College Students, Whitley Louise Rogers-Richards

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This capstone project was created to spread awareness of art therapy to undergraduate college students. A few Virginia colleges/universities were contacted to participate in providing informative presentations about art therapy (by an art therapy and counseling graduate student at Eastern Virginia Medical School). This capstone also provided the opportunity to increase the writer’s professional identity. Radford University participated in the study. The informative presentation was created to increase understanding and awareness about art therapy. Anonymous questionnaires were provided after the presentation. The questionnaires allowed data to be collected and reviewed to conclude results about the presentation. There were 30 Radford …

Dreams And Identity: A Self-Study Using Dream Imagery And Analysis To Explore Relationships And Identity Development, Jasmine S. Jackson

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

For this self-study, I explored the use of art-making and reflective writing in the analysis of my dreams over a nine-week period. A review of the literature discussed the historical and contemporary use of dreams and their relevance to art therapy and counseling. The importance of self-awareness for emerging art therapists was highlighted, as well as the use of dreams, journaling, and art-making to facilitate this process. The results showed that working with dream imagery helped me gain insight on depression, fear, relationships, communication patterns, and sexual identity. Art-making and reflective writing were effective tools for analyzing dreams, identifying problems …

Starving: An Art Therapy Perspective Of Anorexia Nervosa, Reland L. Happel

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this capstone project was to create an art exhibition based on the literature and current art therapy practice to educate the public about anorexia nervosa and about treatment options. This exhibit especially emphasized the use of art therapy in the treatment of anorexia. Sixteen pieces of art were created and displayed with accompanying descriptions and quotes. These pieces of art were displayed in Eastern Virginia Medical School and left up for several weeks. Anonymous responses to the exhibition were collected and analyzed for general themes. Responses demonstrated that the art show had education value and that viewers …

Self Study: Exploring Art Therapist Professional Identity And Body Image After Bariatric Surgery Through Reflective Art Making, Jennifer W. M. Gorman

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This self-study utilized self-reflective art making to record my experience with body image as a bariatric surgery patient. I created artwork and written reflections over five structured sessions. I analyzed qualitative data including five pieces of artwork and written responses to distill patterns, themes, and subthemes. I discovered patterns of visual characteristics, my beliefs about society’s perceptions of me, negative self-talk, positive self-talk, actions, time, assimilation, and health upon data analysis. Implications of this are encouraging for the future study of reflective art making for bariatric patients, researching the effects of individual and group art therapy to further integrate this …

Interviews With Trauma Informed Art Therapy Experts: A Qualitative Study, Kara Cross

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Through qualitative interviewing of art therapy trauma experts, this study’s aim was to discover the “best practices” related to the field of art therapy when working with patients who have experienced trauma. The introduction described the background and rationale behind the study, followed by a brief overview of trauma related disorders and the neurocognitive effects of trauma on the human brain. A synopsis of literature supported the efficacy of art therapy in trauma work, and described multiple art therapy methods as effective treatments when working with patients who have experienced trauma. A description of the six art therapists interviewed for …

Art Therapy With A Patient With Schizoaffective Disorder, Caroline Cheslak

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

People with disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum require treatment and care which are often needed for the duration of that person's life. While medication and traditional therapy are somewhat effective, some symptoms of the disorder often remain. In addition, there are often difficulties in the treatment of this population, which include non-compliance, lack of insight about the disorder and treatment, and distrust of the therapist. Research suggests that art therapy is somewhat effective in the treatment of some of the symptoms of disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum such as low sense of self, the effect of negative stigma, negative symptoms, …

A Self-Study Using Zentangles To Respond To Countertransference In Art Therapy, Lauren N. Caraotta

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This exploratory self-study utilized the production of mixed-media zentangles to respond to countertransference throughout a 15-weekinternship during my art therapy and counseling graduate school experience. Zentangles and written reflections in response to patients on an oncology and hematology unit were created over the course of the internship. Qualitative data including 20 zentangles and corresponding written responses were analyzed in order to identify themes and patterns from my overall experience. The overarching theme that emerged was that there was a relationship between the investment I made in the response art pieces and the strength of my countertransference to individual patients. The …

Art Therapy With A Familial Caregiver Of An Individual With Dementia Of The Alzheimer’S Type, Alexandra M. Serino

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia and causes problems with memory, behavior, and thinking. The symptoms of this progressive disease commonly develop slowly and worsen over time. Family members who are caring for individuals with Dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (DAT) experience significant burden that affects their psychological well-being. This may result in an increase in stress/anxiety and a decreased mood. In this mixed methods case study, six individual in-home art therapy sessions were conducted with one 80 year old woman who was caring for her husband who had DAT, in order to gain preliminary understanding of …

Clinical Case Report: Art Therapy Treatment Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder In An Educational Setting, Alyssa Spjut

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Children and adolescents having a diagnosis that affects their development and social interactions, such as ASD, face many challenges in a school setting. These challenges can include socially appropriate interactions with their peers, disruptive behaviors, language and intellectual impairments, sensory integration problems, understanding emotional responses, and learning skills (Bellini, 2004; Brereton, Tonge & Einfeld, 2006). Specific art therapy interventions, processes, and materials can provide motivating and engaging opportunities for individuals with ASD to increase social and emotional skills and it addresses individuals’ psychological needs (Martin, 2009b). This clinical case report will describe the assessment and treatment of a 12-year-old male …

Bringing The Darkroom To Light: A Heuristic Study In Photographic Art Therapy Processes, Maria Papa

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The process of analogue photography can be complex and rewarding for the field of art therapy, though current photographic techniques and research utilized in art therapy focus mainly on the product and not the process. This qualitative heuristic study focuses on my own eight-­‐week experience of shooting photographs and developing prints in a darkroom. The aim was to understand potential benefits and challenges analogue photography could provide for art therapy practice through a connection with the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC). My reflections on my experience allowed me to extract the major steps of the analogue photography process and identify challenges …

A Self-Study On The Use Of Dreams In Self-Reflective Process To Foster Art Therapist Professional Identity In Graduate School, Ramsi M. Metzger

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This exploratory self-study utilized the tool of dream journaling along with visual and written reflections to record my art therapy and counseling graduate school experience in order to foster professional identity development. Visual reflections on dream journals were created weekly during an eight-week period. Qualitative data, including eight visual reflections and corresponding written haiku responses and artist statements, were analyzed in order to extract patterns and themes from my overall experience. Dream journaling combined with the reflection process was found to foster professional identity development through personal growth and insight.

The Efficacy Of Art Therapy-Based Processes And Techniques In Decreasing Symptoms Of Burnout And Compassion Fatigue In Pediatric Hospice And Palliative Caregivers: A Mixed-Methods Study, Aubrey Maggio

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine the efficacy of art therapybased processes and techniques in decreasing symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue in pediatric hospice and palliative caregivers. Interventions consisted of two twohour art therapy workshops, one in November 2014 and the second in January 2015. Participants were additionally supplied materials to promote self-care between the two workshops. Quantitative and qualitative measures of burnout and compassion fatigue were conducted pre- and posttest using the ProQOL-5 and individual post-intervention interviews. Due to the small sample size, data was analyzed without statistics, but rather illustrated with graphs and tables. …

Battling Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Graduate Student’S Journey Through Art Therapy, Christina Lynn Lowry

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this self-study was to explore the personal experience of being a patient in art therapy, and how effective that experience was in treating the patient’s psychological problems attributed to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

The total duration of the study was five months. The patient underwent a total of ten individual art therapy sessions in which three art pieces were created. One hour self-guided reflections were implemented following the close of each session in which visual journaling was used as a tool and ten visual reflections were created. Art materials and practices varied throughout the art making and …

Children’S Human Figure Drawings And Racial Identity: A Mixed Methods Study, Sonya B. Jimerson

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This study explored characteristics of children’s Human Figure Drawings (HFD) to determine whether any relationship existed between drawing characteristics and the artists’ identified race. Three hundred nine children’s HFDs obtained from the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) art therapy database were used in the study. The drawings were completed by 34 Black American males, 61 Black American females, 105 White American males, and 149 White American females, the children were between the ages of 7 and 11, and attended public schools in Southeastern Virginia. A checklist was developed through content analysis that contained 11 items associated with each group. The …

Unearthing Redemption: A Student’S Self Exploration With Survivors Of Trafficking, Carly Elise Dean

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

When entering the mental health professions, a student may find value in a process of self-exploration (Deaver, 2012; Deaver & McAuliffe, 2009; Harter, 2007; Hubbs & Brand, 2005; La Torre, 2005; Wadeson, 2003). In order to gain a greater awareness of one’s personal as well as professional identity development, the experience of cultural immersion may aid as the catalyst for unearthing a clearer understanding of one’s internal worldview. By employing the approach of authoethnography (Muncey, 2010) and following the heuristic study method developed by Moustakas (1990), I journeyed into an excavation of my own personal and professional identity development in …

Place-Identity: Understanding Sense Of Self Through Art-Making In Nature After A Geographic Transition, Monika Burkholder

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This heuristic self-study researched the impact of a geographic transition on my personal and professional identity by making art in nature with natural materials. A thorough review of the literature revealed a lack of research in making art in nature to study identity after a transition. The following research questions were studied: Does my principle of continuity change as I connect with nature in new places after a geographic transition? How is my self-concept impacted by my connections and disconnections with various places? Does art-making in nature affect my professional identity as an art therapist and my approach to clients? …

Law Enforcement Officer Stress Management Art Therapy Group Design, Abigail Williams

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Law enforcement officers are at increased risk for experiencing negative physical and psychological effects of stress. Art therapy can be an effective method for addressing the effects of stress. The goal of this paper will be to present the design for a 16-week stress management art therapy group for law enforcement officers. The purpose of this paper will be to provide art therapists with insight into understanding police culture and needs and how art therapy can address those needs. The design of this group includes an integrative approach to group art therapy treatment in order to maximize effectiveness and meet …

Consideration Of The Impact Of Therapist’S Gender In Art Therapy Treatment With An Adolescent Female Survivor Of Sexual Abuse: A Clinical Case Study, Michael J. Galarraga

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Providing art therapy to survivors of sexual abuse can help in safe processing of trauma, increase positive self-esteem, and address predominant symptoms of mental healthcare need. Case studies in art therapy clinical experiences provide insight to inform treatment approaches and progress. Essential to the therapeutic relationship, is the exploration of the most salient dynamics including the survivor’s behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms as well as the characteristics of the therapeutic alliance. However, art therapists must understand that the processing of trauma cannot take place without creating a safe, working therapeutic relationship. This clinical case study explored the effects of working …

Art Therapy For Anxiety And Depression During Military-Induced Separation: A Case Study, Christa L. Turpin

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

The purpose of this case study was to gain a preliminary understanding of the effects of art therapy on anxious and depressive symptoms in a 32-year-old African American military wife experiencing military-induced separation from her active duty husband. The mixed methods study design included administration of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and after six sessions of individual art therapy and a semi-structured interview conducted at the conclusion of the study to gain insight into the participant’s experience of art therapy. Results of the BDI-II revealed no change in overall score pre to post-intervention, but …

The Call To Artmaking: Claiming And Reclaiming The Artist Therapist, Josephine M. Stromseth

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

This heuristic qualitative study was completed with the intention of learning about myself as an Art Therapy student in a personal and professional perspective by way of incorporating the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) with artmaking and reflective practice. Using the Moustakas method, this study was organized into the following stages: Initial Engagement, Immersion, Incubation, Illumination, Explication, creative synthesis, and the validation of heuristic research. The data was collected over a 6-week period artmaking once per week, and using ETC assessments to track the variety of change between the experiences of creating in a singular component each week. The findings were …

Approaches And Considerations For Providing Medical Art Therapy: A Qualitative Analysis, Jillian Popp

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Medical illness and injury as well as, the resulting psychosocial stressors can greatly impact the psychological health of the patient and their family. It is important to provide mental health services as collaborative treatment in medical hospitals. Art therapy is a uniquely accessible mental health treatment for all ages and abilities. Previous research supports the benefits of art therapy for individuals suffering from various medical illnesses and injuries. Art therapy can alleviate depression, ease anxiety, provide tools for coping with symptoms, and help the individual overcome medical crisis or trauma. This study examined the experience of art therapists working with …