Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Social Isolation On People With Dementia And The Use Of Arts As Connection, Emily Olive

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states issued quarantines and social isolation policies. While this impacted the well-being and mental health of everyone, it had an increased effect on the elderly population and, more specifically, those living with dementia. Social isolation has been shown to cause a quicker progression of dementia symptoms, increase anxiety and depressive symptoms, and worsen chronic health issues. Before the pandemic, research has agreed that a way to combat the progression of dementia and lower the symptoms is through socialization. A critical review of the literature found that the arts may be used to form connections between …

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 …

Exploring Attachment Through Clay-Based Therapy: A Parent-Child Community Engagement Project, Hilari Stahler

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This research project explores the therapeutic potential of clay, particularly as a creative, sensory-rich process that facilitates access to pre-verbal memories. Grounded in attachment theory and the innovative approach to trauma healing by Cornelia Elbrecht, known as Trauma Healing at the Clay Field®, the study investigates clay's regressive and healing qualities. It examines how its smooth, skin-like texture can activate our implicit memories through sensory experiences. Utilizing a community engagement format, this study aimed to assess the effectiveness of parent-child clay field sessions in addressing intergenerational attachment trauma and unmet attachment needs. The research revealed that the unique properties of …

Social-Emotional Learning In Children, Second Step Curriculum, And Expressive Arts Therapy: A Review Of The Literature, Rachael Hathaway

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In schools across the country students are being taught social-emotional skills through the use of the Second Step curriculum. Second Step is a universal curriculum which is sought to streamline social-emotional learning (SEL) and can be easily implemented within classrooms by classroom teachers. The curriculum implemented as it currently is does not allow for the creative expression of students to be utilized. Previous research has highlighted that in many cases Second Step curriculum proves to be ineffective in nature and lacks longevity or lasting impacts. Social-emotional learning is directly linked to children’s mental health, when children lack emotional literacy they …

The Benefits Of Dance/Movement Therapy For Adult Survivors Of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Aubrey Workman

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review focuses on how dance/movement therapy can be beneficial for adult survivors of adverse childhood experiences. The long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences have recently gained attention after a study in 1998 had profound results. Adverse childhood experiences have long-lasting results that continue into adulthood and the more adverse childhood experiences an individual has the more risk they are at for developing psychological and medical diagnoses later in life. Trauma impairs the brain’s functioning and structure, and it takes multiple positive experiences to rewire the brain. Unhealed adverse childhood experiences can lead to impaired relationships with offspring and …

The Role Of Cultural And Expressive Arts Therapies In The Puerto Rican Diasporic Identity: A Literature Review, Melissa Clay

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Identity for Puerto Rican immigrants is a growing concern with the influx of migration due to numerous natural and human based disasters. This literature review will review Puerto Rico’s tumultuous history and the development of identity through history. Including the Taino, the influence of African slaves, The Three Root Model and colonization by Spain and the United States. Accordingly, this review explores culturally specific beliefs and culturally creative arts and how those can be used in healing practices through Expressive Arts Therapies. We will also consider the culturally sensitivities needed in further research on this topic and within current day …

Integrating Expressive Arts Therapies Into Facilitated Online Therapy Groups For Adults: A Review Of The Literature, Lora Williams

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In early 2020, COVID-19 infections soared throughout the world, driving most group interactions online. Online adult Expressive Arts Therapy (EAT) groups faced unique challenges and opportunities, as the arts interventions did not always translate directly online without adaptations. In this literature review, this thesis focuses on how the specialization of Expressive Arts has been applied to these online adult therapy groups. Where the literature lacked references to the Expressive Arts specifically, the individual arts of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT), Expressive Writing (EW), Art Therapy, and Music Therapy were considered. This capstone thesis offers suggestions for areas of future research to …

Where I’M From: Internal Manifestations Among Cambodian Women Using The Expressive Arts A Literature Review, Noeun Chhim

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Chronic mental illness has affected many Cambodian people, but, culturally, Cambodians aren’t accustomed to opening up and discussing their feelings, rather defining mental illness to craziness and seeking help is presumed taboo. Thus, Cambodians are often reluctant to talk about their experiences and/or their related illnesses. Though Cambodians have experienced inconceivable suffering and violence during the Khmer Rouge era, for the purpose of this thesis, I will be discussing the role of Cambodian women and investigate the extent of what they’ve witnessed and experienced. Cambodian women have suffered through many years of trauma and grief, during and after the Khmer …

The Neurobiology Of The Healing Arts: Expressive Arts Therapy As An Effective Treatment For Adults Diagnosed With Complex Ptsd Due To Complex Trauma In Childhood: A Literature Review, Cheryl Ratliff

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Empirically based therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found to be less effective in treating more severe trauma presentations such as complex PTSD (CPTSD). Neurobiological investigation provides a framework for examining the physical and psychological effects of trauma on brain and nerve structures and provides insight into how to effectively treat CPTSD. This literature review examined symptomology of CPTSD resulting from complex trauma in childhood, neurobiological effects of trauma and their implications for treatment, and the efficacy of the current treatment models, primarily those of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), narrative exposure therapy (NET), and somatic psychotherapies. …

Moral Distress And Allostatic Overload In Clinicians: Mitigating Burnout Through Expressive Arts Therapy - A Literature Review, Kate Salonen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Work-related stress conditions such as burnout and moral distress have been observed to have significant negative impacts on the mental and physical health of helping professionals, contributing to higher allostatic load and stress-related disease, higher rates of job turnover, and overall poorer consumer outcomes. This paper provides an overview of burnout, moral distress, and allostatic overload pertaining to clinicians, and discusses the unique potential of Expressive Arts Therapy as an intervention for mental health providers experiencing moral distress, toward mitigation of stress-related impacts on provider mental and physical well-being. Analysis of available literature in each topic area was completed through …

The Use Of Digital Mediums In Expressive Arts Therapy, Katherine Mcadams

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In recent years, there have been considerable advances in technology, which have made digital devices such as computers and cellphones cheaper and more accessible for most Americans. The Pew Research Center (2019) reports that 96% of adult American’s own a cellphone, with 81% owning a smartphone. Usage rates for cellphones and other digital devices amongst children and adolescents are also high with 95% of teens, aged 13-17, report owning a smartphone (Jiang, 2018). Despite these staggering statistics the field of psychology and creative therapies have been slower to adopt and incorporate the use of digital media and technology into the …

Exploring The Potential Of Expressive Arts Therapy In Crisis Intervention: A Literature Review, Margot Mantilla

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In this literature review various crises and crisis intervention techniques are reviewed alongside expressive arts theories and process to determine how the Expressive Arts can be utilized for crisis intervention. As there is not a well-developed relationship between crisis intervention and the Expressive Arts, various acute care setting which utilize the expressive arts and creative arts therapies are explored to determine how effective the Expressive Arts could be in effectively managing, de-escalating, and learning from a crisis. The finding of this research determines that although there are grounds for the Expressive Arts to be utilized for crisis intervention, substantially more …

Using Paper Theatres As An Expressive Arts Therapy Method: Activating Imaginal Worlds In Community Arts Practice, Silvina S. Ibanez

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Paper theatres are an artistic form that became widely popular in 19th century Europe. Also known as toy theatre and model theatre, a paper theatre has a small build-your-own proscenium and pre-cut paper characters that can be manipulated. Different styles of paper theatre can be found in several cultures.

In contemporary art, the use of paper theatres in several modalities led to an exploration of whether such theatres also could be used as an art therapy method. Research was conducted into expressive art therapy principles, Jungian perspectives, and recent studies in neurosciences. The studies included in the literature review confirmed …

Nondeath Loss & Natural Disasters: What Expressive Arts Therapy Can Offer Survivors, A Literature Review, Elaine Bertolini

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This critical literature review investigates the potential application of Expressive Arts Therapy with adult survivors of natural disasters experiencing nondeath loss by examining the use of ExAT processes with bereaved adults. Explored are the concepts of complicated grief (CG) and nondeath loss, including some of the many tangible (e.g. house, employment) and intangible (e.g. sense of safety, community, time) presentations of nondeath loss in natural disasters, which account for the greatest percentage of loss experienced by survivors. The psychological impact of these losses is insufficiently addressed in current disaster recovery. Evidence is presented that underlines the clinically significant impact of …

“Los Colores Del Duelo”: Expressive Arts Therapy As A Culturally Sensitive Intervention For Grief At An Individual And Systemic Level, Francesca Zanatti

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Grief is a natural human experience that may occur at different levels: individual, familiar, community and systemic. Studies show that grieving may look different across cultures: considering that there are countries with a more collective nature, such as Peru, grieving and healing may involve interventions that allow working with grief at multiple levels. At the same time, grief theories have evolved through time, and bereavement has been largely conceptualized from a Western perspective. In recent years, the cultural component was added to clinicians’ and health professionals’ considerations when approaching grief and bereavement. This thesis will explore Western grief theories but …

How Can The Expressive Arts Therapy Benefit Latinx/Latine Immigrant Families? A Literature, Maria Ticona

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Although there are many years of research and practice for the fields of family therapy and expressive arts therapy, there have been few times when the two integrated. In this Literature Review, the intersection between expressive arts therapy and family therapy is explored to further envision how it could benefit families who are Latinx/Latine immigrant. These families often experience traumatic poverty and violence in their home countries which leads them to decide to migrate. The journey to migrate to the United States, acculturate to a new culture, a new language, grapple with being undocumented or having temporary legality, and discrimination …

Integrating Expressive Arts Therapy And Spirituality: A Literature Review Of Trauma Treatment, Kylie O'Neill

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review responds to the question, “Does a combination of spirituality and expressive arts therapy (EAT) work for the treatment of trauma in adolescent girls?” According to the literature, EAT already has significant information that it is helpful for healing trauma, including measurable research studies on trauma symptom improvement in adolescent girls using EAT, client self-reports of improvement in trauma symptoms using EAT, arts-based research including progress measured by client art, and writing by experts in the field of EAT. While spirituality is and has been in many people’s lives and is accepted in countries outside of the United …

Using Playback Theater With Adolescents In Refugee Camps In Palestine To Tell Their Stories, Khitam Edelbi

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

This research aimed at examining the aspects of Playback Theater and how it was experienced by Palestinian adolescents living under the Israeli occupation. Sixteen Palestinian adolescents between the ages of 15 and 16 participated in this study and came from the same school and the same refugee camp although many did not know each other. A Palestinian trainer/conductor who specialized in Playback Theater and who had work experience with adolescents and conducted a 16 session training program designed to teach adolescents about this interactive theatre form. Data collected included the researcher’s observation notes, video tapes that documented the details of …

Art Therapy As A Tool For Enhancing Adolescent Identity Formation, Self-Knowing, And Empowerment., Victoria Force

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Adolescence is a pivotally important developmental stage for individuals. During this time, adolescents begin the journey of discovering the many facets of their identities. This capstone thesis explores how the discipline of art therapy can aid adolescents in the formation of their understanding of specific parts of their identities. Workshops offered at a community mental health organization collected data via surveys, observable experiences, and art. These workshops offered clients a safe space to artistically express their identity. Results of the exercise provide indications that art therapy could be used as a positive aid in adolescent identity formation.

The Possibility Of Assessment Tools In Expressive Arts Therapy, Joyce Gendler

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Mental health assessments originated as a tool to separate troubled individuals from mainstream society (Feder and Feder, 1998, p. 7). As the field of mental health has developed over time, assessments have come to serve a different purpose. Assessments provide the therapist insight into their clients current experience and data to guide a treatment plan. Data collected from an assessment may be a DSM-V diagnosis, a numeric score, or a qualitative clinical description. As arts-based therapeutic interventions become more widely acknowledged in the field of mental health, modality specific assessments have been developed in order to gather clinical data. Data …

Exploring The Use Of Play In The Expressive Arts As Treatment For Traumatized Youth: A Literature Review, Julie Salvato

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This review of the literature explored expressive therapies informed treatments for children who have experienced trauma in order to identify a healing mechanism within each treatment that was related to play. Patterns and commonalities in the research were documented in order to better understand the mechanism of play that appeared to be healing for the youth. The goal was to identify the elements within the mechanism as individual resources that could be applied in therapeutic interventions when treating traumatized youth in an effort to improve their lives and move them towards healing. This exploration also pointed to the importance of …

Dance/Movement And Drama Therapy Methods To Assess Resistance In Adolescents With Low Sense Of Identity And Self-Esteem: Development Of A Method, Victoria Mancini

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Drama and Dance/Movement based therapies have the ability unlock the psyche through the mind/body connection by gaining access to innate creativity that is prevalent in childhood and often begins to diminish in adolescence. For this thesis, adolescents from a low socio-economic background participated in an Expressive Arts Therapy processing and support group, aimed to build self-esteem, strengthen communication skills, alleviate social anxiety and become part of a community. Dance/movement and Drama therapy techniques were implemented, due to their social nature which promotes embodied self-expression and strengthens verbal problem-solving communication. These two particular modalities have proven to enable deep self-awareness and …

How Expressive Arts Therapy Benefits Children Living With Acquired Brain Injuries, Stacia Boynton

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review explores the positive effects of using an intermodal expressive arts therapy approach when working with children living with an acquired brain injury (ABI). This review outlines symptoms and difficulties children living with ABI experience, it introduces general brain structure, and provides evidence for the potential use of intermodal expressive arts therapy with this population. This review is intended as a tool kit for therapists who are not experienced in working with this client population. It will share research on surrounding expressive therapy modalities such as art, music, dance, drama, and expressive arts therapy; also referred to as …

Community Arts To Promote Cohesion And Gratitude In A Boston Based Children’S Hospital, Katherine Jordan

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper explores the impact of a gratitude based community arts engagement project in an urban children’s hospital. The arts have the power to connect communities and practicing gratitude has protective mental health factors. This project connected these two ideas by implementing a hospital-wide gratitude tree project. Staff, patients, families, and visitors were engaged in adding their gratitude to the communal trees over a period of two months. The results of this investigation display the connecting power of the arts and explores the impact of environment in regard to an art enhanced hospital setting. The results of the study revealed …

Parasocial Relationships With Fictional Characters In Therapy, Kathleen Gannon

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Parasocial relationships are unrequited relationships with persons or characters that the admirer is unable to meet. These attachments are important to explore with a client in their therapeutic process, since there are many reasons why the client developed this relationship. This thesis is a literature review that examined academic and scholarly journals, as well as blogs, articles and websites created by people in fandoms of different medias. The topics that are explored in the literature review are: how parasocial relationships are developed, how parasocial relationships influence the creators’ art making, and how to integrate the client’s parasocial relationships into the …

Coming Home: A Recovery-Oriented Intermodal Focusing Group For Adults With Mental Illness. Development Of A Method., Liana Van De Water

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The recovery model in mental health treatment promotes hope, resiliency, empowerment and agency of the client. All too often these principles are overlooked in favor of a focus on pathology, symptom management, and medication. The focusing method, which was created during the humanist movement of psychology, offers a step-by-step guide to accessing the innate resiliency that lies within an individual’s somatic experience. This paper explores the focusing method as an intervention for recovery-oriented treatment with a group of ten adults (N = 10) living with mental illness at a day program. An intermodal design was applied to establish scaffolding …