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Overcoming the Inner Critic: The Therapeutic Use of Self-Portraits with Older Adults
Get PDFOlder adults are a growing and vulnerable population who experience discriminatory practices that impact their access to equitable housing, employment, and healthcare which was made even more obvious during the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. A community engagement project was developed and facilitated by the writer to support older adults with the psychological effects of surviving the pandemic. This project also helped to increase accessibility to expressive arts therapy in the writer’s local community. Expressive arts therapy is an effective and accessible method to support mental health and wellness for people of all ages. Engagement with the arts helps to decrease the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic including depression, isolation and stress. This thesis explores the therapeutic benefits of self-portraiture with an under resourced population of adults 65 years and older at a health center in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants created self-portraits together, exploring and expressing personal strengths and skills that helped them to cope. The participants experienced positive benefits from the workshops because they had the opportunity to socialize, practice identifying and overcoming their inner critic’s judgments, and create an art piece that could be presented to the local community. The results of this project indicate that using self-portraiture is an effective and accessible way to explore the inner self, process challenging emotions such as grief, and engage in self-expression
Developing a Chinese Herb-based Art Therapy Method for Older Adults in Community Settings
Get PDFPhysiological aging can lead to frustration and hinder the willingness of the elders to learn new things. Therefore, when considering how art therapy can bring better care and benefits to older Chinese immigrants, the author combined Chinese herbs in art making. Studies have shown that using different media based on cultural considerations in art therapy can better meet the needs of diverse groups.
In this thesis, the author designed art therapy sessions corresponding to plant growth and human development stages with the concept of traditional Chinese medicine philosophy to explore the potential value of this method. Through these sessions, the older Chinese adult participants became gradually engaged in the group as they were familiar with the materials used, allowing them to share their thoughts on cultural aspects more freely. Additionally, the use of Chinese herbs as metaphors during the art-making process had a similar effect, expanding and deepening participants\u27 self-care reflections. These findings support the notion that combining art therapy and traditional Chinese medicine philosophy can provide positive outcomes to participants
Exploring the Effects of Intersectionality on Mental Health and Identity Development with Adolescents Through Culturally Humble Art Therapy
Get PDFThis study investigated the implementation of culturally humble art therapy directives centered around identity development and social justice with adolescents. Intersectionality theory was applied to examine the ways operating from a culturally humble lens benefits clients and art therapists. Existing research supports the application of cultural humility with various populations as a method of validating client’s experiences and strengthening the therapeutic alliance. A series of art therapy interventions were implemented at a private non-profit children\u27s psychiatric hospital with the adolescent inpatient units. The participants were between the ages of 13-18 and receiving treatment for mental health conditions, short-term stabilization, and assessment. This study provided an opportunity to practice culturally humble art therapy and experience the personal and professional benefits of utilizing the theory. Findings include the need for lifelong commitment to practicing cultural humility and self-reflection related to countertransference. Art therapists must work towards integrating intersectionality and cultural humility into their daily practices to best support client’s needs and treatment goals
Communicate to Connect: Kate Bornstein, X González, and Judy Shepard Reflect on Self-awareness Strategies and Presenting to Inspire Social Change
No full textPeople throughout the centuries have used public presentation to effect social change. This qualitative case study was designed to explore the various ways that self-awareness affects high-profile presenters committed to effecting social change. Through prespecified criterion sampling, three presenters—Kate Bornstein, X González, and Judy Shepard—were selected and agreed to participate in this study. The primary approach to data collection was in-depth, semi-structured interviews. A document review (print and media) was conducted as a second approach to data collection. Using transcriptions of the interviews and texts from the document review, two rounds of coding were completed. The initial round of coding focused on themes that emerged from the data; the second round of coding included a multi-tiered system that supported individual and cross-case analysis of the types of strategies presenters used and where in the presenters’ processes strategies were implemented. Analysis and interpretation of findings were organized by three guiding research questions: (a) In what ways do highly effective presenters who are committed to effecting social change experience self-awareness strategies in their process of preparing and presenting information to audiences? (b) Which of those self-awareness strategies are perceived as most empowering and impactful to the presenter’s experience and why? (c) In what ways do presenters discover and maintain the self-awareness strategies that they utilize? This research revealed that all three participants reported experiences related to self-talk, visualization, and embodied knowing. Embodied knowing emerged as a recognized self-awareness strategy for all three participants and was utilized in all aspects of preparing and presenting. The study also showed that presenters do what works best for them, as individuals; they honor their own process and recognize that their own approach may look very different from another person’s process. To publicly present for the purpose of effecting social change, creating an authentic, vulnerable, and connected experience with one’s audience is essential. The findings from this study suggest that a model that empowers the individual to be an active agent in discovering the path for learning and practice is essential when teaching, training, or coaching in the field of public presentation
Seeing and Unlearning Whiteness: A Mindfulness Workshop for Racial Justice
Get PDFRacism is a deeply embedded, foundational aspect of American society. However, because the privilege of Whiteness insulates White individuals from the workings of systemic injustice and oppression and enables them to choose the conditions of their accountability in the movement for racial justice, many remain painfully blind to this fact. As such, there is a significant need for those who have been racialized White to develop a critical awareness of the powers and privileges ascribed to their racial identity. The working premise of this thesis is that mindfulness can assist White individuals in unlinking the socialized habits of mind that sustain and reinforce racism and increase their capacity to identify and interrupt embodied experiences of unconscious bias as they occur. Additionally, mindfulness can help them to build the emotional resilience to withstand the inevitable discomfort that arises during explorations of race. Development of these crucial skills could clear a path to racial equity
Mindful Artmaking in Elementary Classrooms: A Path to Emotional Regulation
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In an era dominated by technological advancements and mounting external pressures, the emotional and mental well-being of the younger generation is a growing concern. This research paper explores the intricate relationship between mindfulness, art-making, and emotional regulation within the context of elementary classrooms. The modern world, filled with a plethora of stimuli, has escalated stress levels among individuals, especially children, leading to a surge in mental health issues. Mindfulness, deeply rooted in ancient traditions, teaches individuals to stay present, fostering a non-judgmental awareness of their thoughts and emotions. Art-making, on the other hand, serves as a medium for emotional expression and self-discovery, providing a platform for individuals to externalize and process their feelings creatively. When combined, these tools form a potent strategy to help children understand, express, and regulate their emotions. This study delves into the foundational theories of mindfulness, art-making, and emotional regulation, investigating their relevance and applicability in today\u27s educational settings. Furthermore, the paper underscores the symbiotic relationship between these themes, emphasizing their collective role in fostering emotional balance and mental well-being. As the complexities of the modern world continue to unfold, embracing the therapeutic potential of mindful art-making becomes imperative for cultivating resilience and emotional stability among the younger generation
How Sensory Exploration Using Expressive Arts Provides a Cohesive Experience for Children with Multiple Diagnoses
Get PDFThis thesis looks at the potential benefits and cohesive experience of sensory exploration for children with multiple diagnoses through a trauma informed lens. The researcher was inspired by Prendiville’s (2021) idea of how interactive sensory exploration and art making can help foster and develop reciprocal communication and socio-affective relationships influenced the researcher to design a method that would be used to collect data about potential similar findings. In the method, the interaction of the sensory-specific art mediums were reflected through the expressive therapies continuum (ETC) framework. The research of this thesis acknowledges and explores how trauma and adverse childhood experiences may impact a child’s developmental capabilities through sensory-art explorations. Based on qualitative-arts-based research, data was collected through observations, impressions, self-reflective writing and art-making. The sensory- art explorations were offered with children ages nine through twelve in a therapeutic day school. The participants are children with various backgrounds, demonstrating social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. Every week, for the duration of four months, the selected groups played with materials that explored four senses: tactile, visual, auditory, and olfactory. All materials and explorations were given through a trauma-informed lens. Many therapeutic benefits were observed and cohesion grew over the length of the intervention. The therapeutic benefits observed included deep breathing, kinesthetic release, improved communication, and increased happiness
How Creative Arts Journaling Offers a Holistic and Humanizing Container for Chronic Pain Experiences: A Literature Review and Autoethnography
Get PDFThis expressive arts therapy capstone thesis explores the efficacy of using a creative arts journal in the exploration and management of chronic pain, as well as the correlative mental health issues that arise from chronic pain experiences. Using a biopsychosocial perspective with an awareness of racial health disparities related to chronic pain, I have provided information about chronic pain from medical and humanistic perspectives with a critical review of the literature that showcases the usefulness of the arts for reducing pain, hopelessness, and depression, and increasing mood, self–understanding, and hope. While research on visual journaling for chronic pain is in a nascent stage, much can be drawn from art journaling research with a variety of populations. In addition, an examination of both the efficacy and drawbacks of pain diaries offers some greater insight into the usefulness of chronicling pain experiences. While there is little discussion in the literature related to the specific utility of the art journal format, an examination of a journal’s purpose as a “container” offers some useful insights. Using an autoethnographic approach, I participated in a six–month visual journaling process to explore my own chronic pain experiences. The results of this self–study included a release of physical and emotional tension due to the externalization of pain, an awareness of coping strategies, and a greater sense of personal validity and visibility, among others
Language Barriers and Expressive Arts Therapy with Refugees: A Literature Review
Get PDFRecent decades have seen a precipitous increase in global forced displacement. Events such as the 2015 Syrian refugee crisis have put a spotlight on the arduous and life threatening journeys forcibly displaced people take to try to reach safety and have also begun raising awareness about the psychological needs of forcibly displaced people. Because of experiences before, during, and after migration, refugees frequently have elevated levels of PTSD, depression, and other mental health symptoms. However, mental health service utilization by refugee populations in various host countries tends to be low. This literature review examines existing research on the barriers to mental health services faced by refugees, with a particular focus on language and explores how expressive arts therapy can be used to mitigate linguistic barriers in mental health treatment. Literature on the use of the creative therapies with refugees reports positive outcomes, including a reduction in post-traumatic stress symptoms, increase in resiliency and evidence that the arts foster empowerment and transformation with refugees. However there is a need for more research that specifically focuses on the impact of creative therapies on linguistic barriers when working with refugees. Despite the dearth of research, it is possible to extrapolate from the broader literature on the field of creative arts therapies to make inferences about how expressive arts therapy could be used as a tool to address issues of language in treatment with refugees
How Art Therapy Can Be Used to Teach Queer Inclusive Sex Education to Queer Youth: A Literature Review
Get PDFThis 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 an exploration of the topics of art therapy, LGBTQIA+ history, feminist theory, queer theory, and object relations theory, previous research and writing are integrated into the conceptualization of the potential benefits that would come from the exploration of queer experiences in sex education through art therapy with queer youth