Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Women's Roles In Peacebuilding, Yu Nagahama

Senior Theses

How can we restore peace after conflicts? And how can we maintain it? The institution of successful peacebuilding has been a critical task for the international community since the end of the Cold War. The United Nations, the Member States, scholars, and civic organizations have been searching for the perfect solutions to establish sustainable peace. However, in many cases, conflict resolutions are fragile, and many of them end up with the recurrence of violence. According to the United Nations, countries that have experienced wars are more likely to have successive wars within a decade (United Nations 2017). In 2000, the …

Representation And Global Power In A Multicultural Germany: A Discourse Analysis Of The German Response(S) To The Presence Of Syrian Refugees, Kyle William Zarif

Senior Theses

This thesis seeks to assess the German political response to the presence of Syrian refugees from 2015-17 within the cultural context of Germany and the overall EU political approach to the Syrian conflict. To this end, it examines the German media conversation surrounding Syrian refugees, using a quantitative media study done by the UNHCR. In turn, it compares the rhetorical and political approaches of the mainstream German center (Merkel's Christian Democratic Union Party) and the right wing (the Alternative for Germany Party and PEGIDA) within the context of shifting popular German sentiments towards refugees. Considering the internal response, cultural context, …

Exploring Self-Injury: An Art-Based Approach To Cultivating Empathy And Understanding In Mental Health Professionals, Dana Wyss

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Self-injury greatly affects individuals, their families, and the mental health professionals who provide their care. This art-based research investigates the impact of clients’ self-injury on mental health professionals. It addresses four research questions and applies a methodology that integrates body art, photography, poetry, and dialogue. Six participants (including the researcher) participated in three meetings wherein they artistically responded with temporary body art to two questions, sorted through their photographs, reviewed poetry created about their work, and discussed the study experience. The researcher navigated being a witness-researcher by personally and creatively engaging in the study.

The results present raw, distilled narratives, …

Art Therapy And The Person-Centered Approach: A Method For Breaking Down Creative Resistance With Dementia Patients, Kimberly Nelson

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This Capstone explores the use of art therapy with a geriatric population on a psychiatric unit of a small, rural southern hospital. Most of the patients experience symptoms of dementia and are over the age of 55. Many patients presented with resistance to creative pursuits and this researcher utilized the person-centered approach to counter this “creative resistance”. In other words, the patients were met where they were at and accepted unconditionally, through empathy and congruence. The materials that were offered to this population were explored through the creative resistance as well, and a simple number two pencil produced successful results …

Movement, Laughter And Breath With Intergenerational Women: A Community Engagement Project About Connections, Lisa Hough

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This Community Engagement Project was created to explore how movement, laughter and breath can create connection for intergenerational women. A community event was facilitated at a suburban YWCA as an observational tool and for information gathering. Arts based research was conducted and evidence of non-verbal movements were recorded through observation, video recordings, and reflections from the participants in the session. In addition, published peer reviewed articles that explore these elements of expression were utilized as an alternative lens. Recent current events that are affecting women worldwide, such as the #metoo and Time's Up movements, offered the backdrop for this project. …

A Dance/Movement Therapy Method For Improving Mood States Of Adolescent Girls In A Residential Treatment Center, Selena Coburn

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine dance/ movement therapy (DMT) sessions as a method of intervention, through observing with Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and Kestenberg Movement Profile (KMP) and recording shifting mood states in participants living in a residential treatment center. The participants are adolescent female clients age 13-17 years old. They have co-morbid diagnoses including depression, eating disorders, ADHD, histories of abuse and neglect, and oppositional defiant disorder. Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) and verbal check-ins are used to determine mood states before, during, and after a DMT session. Data is collected via observations made using a designated …

Mirroring, Social Learning And Dance Movement Therapy With Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review, Megan Fitzpatrick

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The literature review investigated the use of mirroring to help develop emotional understanding through social learning with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research reviewed was used to further cognize how mirroring could give a child with ASD a better understanding of their own and others’ emotions through social learning. The findings revealed that mirroring could be an affective tool to build social awareness of emotions in children diagnosed with ASD. The mirror neuron system (MNS) is the area of the brain that assesses perception and production of movement creating an overlap. Using the idea of the mirror …

Integrating Expressive Therapies And Visual Literacy Skills In An Exceptional Children Classroom, Natalia Torres Del Valle

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The method conducted in this thesis integrated museum education, exceptional children education, and expressive arts therapy practices. Objectives for implementing the method were to learn how to effectively address the unique needs within the exceptional children classroom, as well as to collaborate with the teacher to address those needs through expressive arts therapy and visual literacy approaches. In so doing, I wanted to examine the differences and similarities between museum education and expressive arts therapy and how they can work together to meet therapeutic goals. The method took place over four sessions; each session focused on a work of art …

Fostering Social/Emotional Learning In A School Setting With Adolescents With Special Needs Through Collaborative Art Experiences, Alyssa Wood

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone focused on working with adolescents with special needs through art experiences. The framework in working with has evolved into the incorporation of social-emotional learning. Social-emotional benchmarks have been present in common themes in working with the special needs population. Art has been seen as a beneficial tool in therapeutic work with this population concerning cognitive growth, emotional regulation, adaptive behavioral styles, and physical development. This capstone specifically highlighted collaborative art and its role in an art group composed of adolescents in a school setting. Collaborative art experiences were presented through art partner work. Data was collected through observations, …

Using Children's Books To Build Empathy In Children, Kate Solow

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

An art therapy group was carried out to assess whether children’s books positively affected children’s ability to empathize. The group consisted of one therapist and three children aged 8, 9, and 10 in a therapeutic classroom. The group met for 30 minutes once a week. The children listened to a story, followed by a discussion and a related art project. Observations from each session were recorded in a spreadsheet. The results suggest that reading and discussing the books allowed the children to have a better understanding of their own and others’ emotions.

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 …

Clay: Qualities, Benefits, And Therapeutic Applications A Literature Review, Sara Hansen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Clay is ubiquitous. It is uniquely durable and plastic. It is a substance sourced from the earth that has been manipulated in numerous ways and used for a variety of purposes for thousands of years. Despite this, art therapy research is heavily focused on art making using two-dimensional materials. Research is lacking regarding the use of clay as a medium in art therapy. This literature review revealed many therapeutic benefits and qualities about clay. These qualities include increasing mood in psychiatric patients, increasing progress in self-development for patients with schizophrenia, increasing self-expression with older adults, and healing from trauma. This …

From Ptsd To Dementia, Can Art Therapy Be Useful For Prevention And Intervention?, Souhad Chbeir

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This review explores the possible link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the increased risk of developing dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. Chronic stress and trauma alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway resulting in increased exposure to glucocorticoids (GC). The hippocampus, a memory center of the brain, is highly vulnerable to the effect of the stress hormone GC because of the high density of GC receptors. Continuous exposure to stress causes reduced hippocampal volume resulting in memory problems, trouble in trauma processing and long term health consequences, possibly including Alzheimer’s disease. Trauma also results in reshaping the amygdala, the center of emotions, causing …

Seeking More Exposure: A Literature Review Examining How Drama Therapy Can Be Used To Treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder In Adults With Diverse Learning Differences, Emily Schwartz

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

It has been suggested that adults with learning differences (LD) may be more susceptible to occurrences of violence, abuse, and neglect. However, there is presently limited research examining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults with LD. Within this paper, existing literature of PTSD in adults with LD is reviewed. This review includes how symptoms of PTSD in adults with LD manifest, and what treatment approaches are currently being used with the population. According to the literature, it was determined that exposure therapy is frequently used to treat PTSD in adults with LD. This result is compared with exposure elements present …

Music Therapy Methods And Vocalizations: A Look Into One Boy's Process, Brooke Rutstein

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis project explores a detail-oriented music therapy approach used to elicit vocalizations and speech for an individual on the autism spectrum. Although there is compelling research on music therapy contributing to speech acquisition for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the methods discussed in the literature are vague and do not discuss the music itself in detail. Specifics would be helpful in order to allow these methods to be replicable. To explore specific musical elements, I administered five 30-minute music therapy sessions to a 12-year-old boy on the autism spectrum during his school day. During sessions, I measured …

The Use Of Music Therapy To Develop Speech And Language Skills In Children With A Tracheostomy As A Result Of Premature Birth, Anna Kartstein

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This capstone thesis project was created to answer two questions which have remained present throughout my work in early intervention. There is research that supports the positive impact that music therapy has on furthering the development of those dealing with chronic illness and medical attachments. This capstone thesis was created to examine exactly how does music therapy help those born prematurely and how effective are the interventions being conducted. Additionally, this thesis project examines how the work of music therapists in early intervention is processed by the clinicians themselves and how these intense sessions can affect them emotionally. It is …

Promoting Cultural Identity Through Dance/Movement Therapy With Immigrant Children, Karen Alejandra Salazar

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The present research project focuses on exploring how culture influences identity and how the development of a bicultural identity affects bicultural individuals. Having a multicultural or multiethnic identity could be a source of strength and/or confusion, bicultural individuals may have difficulties in identifying and sorting their group membership status and their cultural attitudes, values, perspectives, and behaviors (Navarrete & Jenkins, 2011). The present research proposes that dance movement therapy and the Expressive Therapies could serve as a means to allow individuals to explore and strengthen their cultural identity. A cultural identity workshop was implemented with second grade, English language learner, …

Examining Ritual In Dance/Movement Therapy, Jessica Michele Flores

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Ritual practices have long been a part of numerous cultures’ history as mind-body actions performed for healing. Modern day rituals can be observed in baptisms, weddings, or funerals. Rituals have also been adapted into various psychotherapy approaches as effective, time-limited transformative additions through Van Gennep’s transition phases among varying populations. Ritual and dance/movement therapy are established as effective healing processes through similar concepts including sociality, dance, non-verbal communication and being body-based approaches. This literature review revealed the inner workings of ritual performance and dance/movement therapy through neuroscience. This literature review intends to present relevant research on the unique molding qualities …

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 …

Adolescents, Empathy And Dance Movement Therapy, A Literature Review, Jessica Tokarchuk

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Abstract

Aggression and violence among adolescents in the school setting has continued to increase in the past several years. Empathy is related to decreased aggression in adolescents. Teaching empathy and other prosocial skills in school has been shown to decrease aggression. Several researchers have presented curriculum and methods to teach these skills, however violence and aggression continue to occur at high rates in schools in America. Current methods used in schools in America need to be developed with different approaches. The development of a strong sense-of-self, self-esteem and emotion-regulation are needed to support the development of empathy. Secure attachments throughout …

Adolescents With Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder And/Or Oppositional Defiant Disorder Benefit From Active Arts Therapy, Caitlin Carey

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This literature review investigates the implementation of medication and active arts therapy with adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). Adolescents ages 13 to 19 spend most of their time in school. School systems have modified a therapeutic setting to benefit and assist students with these diagnoses. This paper analyzes whether the implementation of active visual arts and play therapy has positive effects for adolescents with ADHD and/or ODD involved in taking or not taking medication, resulting in a positive impact on their quality of life. By reviewing previous research, this literature review builds a case …

Reflection Of A Sensory Art Therapy Directive In Supporting Coping Skills With Adults With Mental Illness, Heather Holloway

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Reflection of a Sensory Art Therapy Directive in Supporting Coping Skills with Adults with Mental Illness

Sensory Jars were created in 3 groups within the partial hospitalization program for adults, dealing with mental health and substance use issues, in order to support learned coping skills through a multi-sensory process. The creation of the jars were intended to specifically support a mindful grounding technique taught at the program called the “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” method. These jars were for the members to have a physical tool in which to help them practice this method before they found themselves within a …

Breaking Barriers: Using Music To Create Community In Orphanages, Jessica Maclean

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Community Music Therapy is a quickly growing subfield of music therapy that shows positive effects on groups of marginalized people. Although there is a large body of research surrounding the use of Community Music Therapy with some populations, there is little to no research about its use in orphanages. This thesis describes a community engagement project that took place in an orphanage in Vietnam, demonstrating the positive effects of music therapy on the children residing there. Interactive live music was played in the wards the children live on for two weeks and the experiences and results were documented by the …

Using Bilateral Art/Drawing With Adolescents That Suffer From Trauma With Self-Regulations Issues In Residential Setting, Sharon Fortier-O'Dea

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This thesis reviews how the use of art therapy intervention with adolescents that have experienced traumatic events in their lives resulting in problems of self-regulation. Due to the adolescent experiences from their childhood, these individuals did not get a chance to learn how to self-regulate their emotions, caused by maltreatment, abuse and the lack of guidance. Trauma affects a child’s development at the stage that incident happened and blocks the child from properly achieving milestones of growth. The adolescent’s self-regulation skills may have not developed due to the impact of trauma. Furthermore, the experience of being at a residential treatment …

Enhancing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy And Expressive Arts Therapy By Applying A Hybrid Approach, Danielle Carroll

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Therapists often draw from multiple therapeutic modalities in order to find appropriate treatment options for a client; however, little is written on the subject of how these modalities may be able to enhance each other in a strategic way. When considering the field of expressive arts therapy and the struggle it has faced in the effort to legitimize itself, it is worth considering how other therapeutic modalities could work in tandem with it in order to improve the overall experience. Alternatively, cognitive behavioral therapy is a strong, evidence-based practiced that sometimes lacks in the qualitative experience realm, providing a gap …

Planning For Spontaneity: Music Therapy Session Preparation, Structure And Procedures, Peri Strongwater

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Current research in the field of music therapy regarding productivity and efficiency is limited to exploring theoretical concepts and is lacking on the effects of implementing said theories. It will be advantageous for music therapists to adopt streamlined processes for recurring responsibilities such as session planning, preparation and post-session processing. Increased productivity in these endeavors will permit more time allocated towards more valuable undertakings. To expand upon the emerging data and to contribute to the field’s current understanding, this writer has designed a session structure model exclusively for music therapists to use in their clinical practices. A worksheet-based template was …

A New Lens Community Engagement Project, Danielle Hance

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

Tensions continue to run high between law enforcement and communities of color in the Twin Cities metropolitan area following multiple police-related deaths, including Jamar Clark and Philando Castile. Studies, both nationally and regionally, demonstrate an elevated level of distrust for law enforcement in the Black community and higher numbers of police errors involving the shooting of unarmed Black people. The author sought to create a project that would enhance perspective taking, address bias and stereotypes, and provide a safe space for healthy dialogue between the volunteers from the law enforcement and Black community using the arts. Photovoice is a technique …

Meeting Spiritual Needs Through Dance/Movement Therapy When The Mind Dissipates In Dementia: Development Of A Method, Mallory Barnes

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

The question of how identity is affected when diagnosed with dementia is explored in this capstone thesis. With the rise of dementia diagnoses (Goldstein-Levitas, 2016) there is a need for understanding effective approaches to care as emotional components remain intact. The literature highlights the essence of personhood and how person-centered care (PCC) is essential to preventing isolation and impacting a sense of self and well-being (Killick, 2004). Meeting spiritual needs in the sense of hope and purpose may also improve quality of life and delay symptoms. Dance/movement therapy (DMT) is specifically highlighted as an effective approach as sessions incorporate the …

Radicalizing Role Method: A Literature Review On The Use Of Role Method With Elementary-Aged Youth Within Urban Communities, Kimberly Kidders-Montoya

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This paper describes the use of Robert Landy’s role theory and Role Method for elementary-aged youth in urban communities. Material is presented with discussion on the needs of young people, or individuals under the age of 18, in urban communities. This research examines current literature using current drama therapeutic methods with young people and the theoretical and methodological foundations in Landy’s role theory and Role Method. This paper uses a critical theory lens to critique current practices as well as examining current American Psychological Association’s (APA) code of ethics; and the North American Drama Therapy Association’s (NADTA) code of ethics, …

Development Of An Art Therapy Protocol For Reducing Shame In Forensic Offenders, Jessica Nora Cohen

Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses

This research follows the development and implementation of the Shame Reduction for Offenders (SRO) art therapy protocol. The protocol is carried out in a group format with twelve participants with forensic backgrounds on an inpatient unit at a psychiatric state hospital. Using art therapy, the patients directly and indirectly address feelings of shame as well as fear of losing control. Due to the nature of art therapy, the non-verbal aspects of this protocol allow participants to confront these feelings in a less threatening space. This protocol allows participants to gain insight and communicate about the topics of shame and control …