Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Expressive Arts Therapy To Support Positive Experiences Of Embodiment Among Rural Lgbtq+ Adults: A Literature Review, Ann Stromgren

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper investigates the use of expressive arts therapy to support LGBTQ+ adult clients in rural communities. Caring professionals in rural areas often lack training on how to work with LGBTQ+ clients, and best practices for clinical mental health counseling with rural LGBTQ+ clients have yet to be defined. Some evidence suggests that using “metronormative” best practices with rural clients may be irrelevant or cause harm (Giano et al., 2020). Although some recommendations exist for using expressive therapies with LGBTQ+ clients, they are rarely evidence-based, as very few empirical studies exist evaluating the effectiveness of expressive therapy interventions with LGBTQ+ …

How Art Therapy Can Be Used To Teach Queer Inclusive Sex Education To Queer Youth: A Literature Review, Olivia Souza

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review examines the potential of art-making as a tool to educate and inform queer youth about queer sexual experiences. Many queer individuals lack information about safe and healthy sex due to the exclusion of queer experiences in sex education programs. Current sex programs solely focus on abstinence and heterosexual experiences, leaving queer youth in the dark about what to expect from future sexual experiences they may have and how to practice safe queer sex. Through a search of the literature, it was discovered that there is a gap in research using art therapy in this specific context. Through …

Restorying Queer Family: A Scoping Review, Matthew Freeman

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

LGBTQ+ populations within clinical research are typically characterized through the lens of the minority stress model (Meyer, 2003) and the risks or problems that are associated with their identities (Kiekens et al., 2020). Despite rising rates of families headed by LGBTQ+ individuals (Suter et al., 2016), they remain underrepresented within family-based research (Jensen & Sanner, 2021).This body of work aims to move beyond these standards to explore the ways that LGBTQ+ individuals utilize narrative as a means of connecting themselves to their families. In order to accomplish this, a scoping literature review was conducted to answer the following question: “Within …

The Queer God, Rodney Simpson

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis explores the impact of dance/movement therapy practices on the embodied healing experience of Black queer and LGBTQIA++ - identified people to heal from religious and spiritual trauma. Currently, there is limited research dedicated to the understanding of Blackness, queerness, and spirituality and the unique perspective dance/movement offers in combatting oppressive systems of religious trauma. Research is needed that acknowledges and amplifies the ways Black queer people have adapted, survived, and thrived. This literature review provides a discussion of historical contexts at the intersections of Blackness, queerness, and spirituality to engender a remembering, reclaiming, and reimagining of Black queer …

Beyond The Dominant Paradigm: Integrating Expressive Arts Therapy And Narrative Therapy To Best Serve The Needs Of Trans And Gender Non-Conforming People: A Literature Review, Ej Huston

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

In this paper, I reviewed the past, present, and what I argue is the best possible future for clinical practice with TGNC clients. I began with an overview of the broad approaches to deviance from the norm in the field of mental healthcare: starting with approaching trans people with a pathologizing model; continuing on to a cultural competence model, which was an improvement but did not ultimately challenge the larger colonial framework that led to the pathologization in the first place; and ended with the humanity-affirming paradigms of decolonization and cultural humility.

The literature review was concerned with narrative therapy …

Queer Embodiment And Semiotics: Reclamation In Lgbtq+ Adult Community By Designing And Wearing Temporary Tattoos, Sara Bonnick

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper presents a new approach that centers on supporting and bringing forth the embodied narratives of LGBTQ+ adults through designing and wearing temporary tattoos. The researcher synthesizes literature in regards to notable historical symbols of queer visibility, tattooing as a social work adjacent practice, and previous interventions that have been conducted with the LGBTQ+ community. The researcher also provides a focus on how temporary tattoos have been utilized in past expressive art therapy methods. The majority of preexisting research within the intersections of queerness, tattoos, and art therapy techniques are often rooted in themes related to self-perception, community connection, …

Reclaiming Metaphor; Myths, Monsters, And Narratives With Lgbtq+ Adolescents In Drama Therapy, Christina Dennis

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper will present a synthesis of existing available research on the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ adolescent community within the field of drama therapy with a specific focus on Narradrama and Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth approach to mythology. The literature review of these subjects will be aimed at the future use of Monomyth in conjunction with Narradrama with LGBTQ+ adolescents who are experiencing identity issues and other crises associated with their status as members of the queer community. This literature review will aim to create a base of collated research to aid in future method interventions using mythology and heightened …

The Queer Expansion Of Role Theory: A Drama Therapy Intervention With Lgbtq+ Adults, Abigail Truax

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

There is currently a lack of information in understanding LGBTQ+ specific needs in mental health care, thus creating a marginalized space in which queer people are significantly more dissatisfied with mental health treatment as opposed to heterosexual and cisgender people seeking treatment (Avery, Hellman & Sudderth, 2001). This thesis will focus on the development of a method in which I will expand upon Robert Landy’s role theory and create a drama therapy role intervention crafted specifically for the queer population and their needs. Because of oppression within the LGBTQ+ community my focus will be on expanding role theory and its …

How Dance And Music Stimulate Therapeutic Change In A Personal Movement Ritual, Cassidy Bingham

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis investigates the therapeutic effects of the researcher’s own arts practice or personal movement ritual, which is based in her tacit knowledge and intuition. The researcher is also the participant of this study. Her personal movement ritual, which was formalized as the method, was conducted before the literature review in order to prioritize tacit knowledge before introducing the influence of other scholars. In the literature review, Ellen Dissanayake’s and other scholars’ rationale for the emotional and cognitive changes that take place during rituals through music and dance are explained. These rationales, or the five constructs of entrainment, “ …

Drama Therapy With Queer Adults: Identity Reflection And Expression, Emily Lunardi

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

There are people of every age, race, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, and area of the world that identify as part of the queer community, and drama therapists have the opportunity to address their specific needs. The current literature regarding effective drama therapy with queer people is limited. Affirming and identity-focused psychotherapy that allows queer people to relate to one another has been found to be beneficial for this population. The discussed development of a method is designed to contribute to an understanding of the strengths and limitations drama therapy, specifically projective techniques, narrative writing, narrative performance, and small group embodiment …

Queering Music Therapy: Literature Review Of Queer Music Therapy And Music Therapy Education, Eva M. Steward

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis presents current research on the queer (LGBTQ+) community and music therapy. Research on the education of music therapists in working with queer identified clients and patients as well as the current theories and recommendations when providing affirming music therapy for queer clients and patients is discussed. Queer theory is defined and its relationship to psychotherapy, expressive arts therapies, and music therapy is explored. This research shows that even though there is a current push for music therapists to create an affirming and therapeutic environment with queer clients and patients, there is a lack of research, education, and …

Exploring Intersections Of Queer Artist Identities Through Music: A Community Engagement Project, Derrick Lacasse

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Members of the LGBTQ+ or Queer community are likely to experience minority stress throughout their lives (Borgogna et al., 2018). This community engagement project explored the intersections of identity among artists in the queer community to better understand how art can be used to heal from minority stress. An all-queer space was created to allow members of the queer community to feel relief from minority stress and speak without feeling judged. Through art making, sharing, discussions, and singing together members of the queer community were able to build resilience and deepen hope. Findings for this project indexed queer artists’ use …