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I, You and We: Expressive Arts Therapy Interventions and Childhood Identity Development: Development of a Method
Get PDFThis thesis examined the value and intersection of intermodal Expressive Arts therapy work and childhood identity development. Through a critical review of the literature on identity work, Expressive Arts therapy, and child-centered approaches the author extricated reoccurring themes in each approach. The author also identified gaps in field research pertaining specifically to the 7-9 year old prepubescent population and the growing need for a holistic, arts-based approach to healthy identity exploration and development prior to the adolescent stage. To address this, the proposed method was used in a dyad with two 8-year-old cis-female children in a therapeutic school environment over the course of 6 consecutive weeks. The method was designed as a treatment plan to address 4 main points of personal identity, self-expression, self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-efficacy as well as social identity in order to address the multifaceted nature of our individual identities both internally and externally. Results and findings collected demonstrated the effectiveness of the child-centered, Expressive Arts therapy approach to identity work with this population while also calling attention to unsuccessful aspects of the proposed method, areas that require improvement and expansion to broaden its range of demographics. Literature and studies applicable to the value and intersection of intermodal Expressive Arts therapy, child-centered approaches to treatment and childhood identity development were examined identifying gaps in the current research and the growing need to address such disparities. The literature review conducted by the author to support their developing method looks at topics such as interventions that are school based or conducted in an educational setting, arts-based research methods and means of data collection and the various benefits of expressive art therapy group work with children
Literature Review: Foundations of Self-Care Practice Utilizing Expressive Arts for Counselors in Training
Get PDFIn this thesis I explore the concept of self-care for graduate students in the field of mental health counseling through their pre-licensure period, who I refer to as counselors-in-training. The thesis begins with a description of the existing literature on what challenges are unique to this field and population and how self-care may mediate the impact of such stressors as burnout, secondary or vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue, all of which can lead to impaired competence and/or leaving the profession. I have identified three foundational components to approach self-care: self-awareness/self-reflection, self-compassion, and balance. I believe these foundational elements are best accessed through expressive art therapy interventions. I have selected two modalities, mindfulness and journaling within expressive arts that I have found to be the most accessible and impactful in developing a sustainable self-care practice for the long-term well-being of counselors-in-training. A review of literature and discussion of my own experience utilizing these modalities have proven to be a valuable approach to creating an effective set of skills and methods to use as a counselor-in-training as well as use within my professional practice
Dance Movement Therapy Interventions to Build Coping Skills and Identity in Adolescent Patients Dealing with a Cancer Diagnosis: Development of a Method
Get PDFAdolescents are a special category in pediatric oncology because of their unique physical and mental development. This patient population has needs specific to both their development and cancer diagnosis. Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) focuses on building awareness of inner sensations so that the patient can then connect those observations with felt emotions and thoughts. Connecting the physical experience with the emotional experience can provide helpful information for the patient as a tool for change. Building and strengthening relationships with family members also strengthens the critical support system for the patient. Dance Movement Therapy interventions may be effective in working with adolescent cancer patients, by exploring my created goals of building a connection to the body; creating rituals of expression for self, family, and community; and exploring shifting identity. This treatment method focused on adolescent patients, ages 12-18, with cancer diagnoses at a children’s hospital. Three different DMT interventions were offered and implemented based on observed needs and patients\u27 choice and control. Learnings emphasized that adolescent identity is connected to the body. These opportunities for art and movement were shown to be effective tools for expression and communication for patients and their families. These treatment methods and learnings can also be applied to other areas of mental health working with adolescents; from additional areas of medical trauma to other experiences that include trauma or life-changing events
COVID-19 Mindfulness Toolkit: A 4-Week Course for Adult Working Professionals
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in terms of size and scale, and has impacted virtually every facet of life across the world over the past two and a half years. For adult working professionals, it has presented enormous challenges including work-from-home mandates, video conferencing, homeschooling, unplanned childcare, financial instability, and prolonged uncertainty leading to increased fear, stress, anxiety, and loneliness. Other work on this topic reports that even a short program in mindfulness can help adult working professionals counteract the negative effects of chronic stress and trauma. This study argues that my proposed program with four specific mindfulness practices entitled COVID-19 Mindfulness Toolkit: A 4-Week Course for Adult Working Professionalscan help adult working professional better self-regulate and care for themselves throughout the ongoing and prolonged phases of the pandemic. This program can be incorporated into corporate training curriculums and be offered either in person or remotely via video-conferencing technology
A Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Common Factors Association with Pain and Functional Outcomes in Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions
Get PDFHealthcare costs continue to rise the provision of value-based care with evidence to support improvement in patient outcomes is essential for service coverage. While physical therapy has proven to be effective for the treatment of painful musculoskeletal conditions ostensibly different treatment approaches have yielded similar results. These findings have led to an exploration of the influence of the features present across all interventions, variables known as the “common factors”, on physical therapy outcomes. Research pertaining to common factors remains in the early stages in physical therapy literature, with studies primarily aimed at defining and exploring singular concepts. Using Wampold’s Contextual Model as a framework this study explored the influence of several common factors; empathy, expectancy, credibility, therapeutic alliance, and autonomy support, on pain and functional outcomes for individuals receiving physical therapy for painful musculoskeletal conditions. Using a mixed-methods approach survey data and semi-structured interviews provided insight into the relationship between the common factors and standardized patient outcomes measures, along with important contextual information from patients\u27 perceptions of their physical therapy experience. The results demonstrated the following significant findings; a weak inverse relationship between patient expectation and improvement in pain rating (rs = -.277 p \u3c.001), and a moderate to a weak relationship between therapeutic alliance measures (WAI Task rs = .337 p = .002), credibility rating (rs = .255, p = .002) and improvement on functional measures. Themes from participant interviews illustrated the importance of the bond between patients and providers and how common factors influence the development of a strong therapeutic relationship that in turn leads to increased patient engagement and adherence to physical therapy recommendations. By utilizing an established framework, the Contextual Model, this study contributes to physical therapy literature by exploring the influence of common factors on pain and functional outcomes
Redefining Connection and Meaning-Making through Virtual Artistic Community Amidst Persistent Adversity: A Community Engagement Project
Get PDFAmidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the meaning of community drastically shifted across the world. Many groups and individuals were forced to alter their professional, academic, and personal lives in order to persevere through this collective, global health crisis. During a time in history where so much changed in a short period of time, community and peer supports became more important than ever. Specifically for students involved in arts or expressive arts programs, the process of collective art making serves as a means of communication, connection, and emotional and mental processing. Without these connections and critical supports, feelings of disconnect, disinterest, loss and isolation increased across many student groups. To address the needs of this community, the following Community Engagement Project, called “Expressive Arts Community Care,” was offered through a series of virtual, expressive arts community group meetings, in collaboration with Lesley University Mutual Aid, and Lesley’s Office of Community Service Art.For.Change project in April of 2021. The project sought to explore, examine, and potentially redefine what artistic community spaces can look like and feel like through virtual platforms, while providing a supportive space to members of the defined community as they continued to persist through indefinite adversity. The results of this project indicate that through greater accessible spaces to share in artistic experiences, a ripple effect of community, growth, and healing can unfold
Drama Therapy Interventions that Support Students with ASD During COVID-19
Get PDFDue to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that began in December 2019, many people experienced traumatic losses, environmental stressors, and overall daily challenges. One of the populations most at risk during this time were those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Those with mental health illness and developmental differences are experiencing the pandemic in different ways. Individuals with ASD tend to have both developmental differences and mental health challenges that motivate individuals to seek medicinal and therapeutic help, along with other services to support their daily needs. This literature review addresses the negative and positive impacts COVID-19 has had on the ASD population. There will be a focus on children and adolescents with ASD, who are experiencing virtual learning and how their social and emotional skills (SEL) might be at risk during this time due to these unforeseeable factors. Drama therapy techniques and interventions such as role-play, storytelling, projective tools, and embodiment will be explored as therapeutic options for the ASD population to work through areas of anxiety, depression, isolation, social-emotional learning skills, and overall wellness. The literature supports how these drama therapy interventions complement the ASD population in therapeutic services and can be a prominent benefit to combat the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic
The Role of Community Music Therapy in Building Social Connections and Reducing Stigma for People with Substance Use Disorders: A Literature Review
Get PDFThis capstone thesis investigates the benefits of Community Music Therapy (CoMT) in creating social connections and reducing stigma for people suffering from substance use disorders. For the purpose of this paper, substance use disorders (SUD), substance use, and addiction are framed as part of an umbrella construct, and they are used interchangeably. Stigma towards drug users is a social phenomenon all over the world. According to Mora-Ríos, Ortega-Ortega, and Medina-Mora (2017) social rejection is more experienced in drug users than any other diagnosable condition. This literature review is theoretically grounded in the notion that substance use disorder stems from biological processes, as suggested by McBride and Peterson (2002). This paper describes the approach of Community Music Therapy (CoMT) as a beneficial form of treatment for SUD. Knight (2018) states that CoMT aims to focus on music-making processes as a form of social inclusion as well as how to overcome boundaries that divide or exclude participants. There are six key discussion topics in this literature review: (1) diagnostic and biological factors of substance use disorders; (2) the prevalence of stigma towards people seeking addiction treatment and barriers to recovery; (3) trauma as it relates to substance use; (4) key concepts of the CoMT approach in building community and reducing stigma; (5) a neurological rationale for utilizing music therapy to address social connectivity; and (6) advocacy for people suffering from substance use disorders. Considerations for this work, which are explored through this critical review of the literature, are found to be applicable and adaptable to the field of music therapy
Music as a Tool to Help Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Develop Social Skills
Get PDFChildren diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty verbally communicating to others in their community. Due to high levels of engagement, music therapy has been proven to be a more effective method in enhancing verbal and non-verbal communication skills for children diagnosed with ASD. This literature review examines various research studies that seek to improve the social skills of children diagnosed with ASD through methods such as music therapy and speech pathology. In addition to this, it explores the clinical definition and standards of social skills society believe individuals need. Though more research needs to be conducted, the current literature suggests that music can be utilized as a tool to enhance social skills among children with ASD
Artivism and the Importance of Community for DACA and Undocumented College Students in the United States: A Literature Review
Get PDFThis literature review explores artivism, the combination of art and activism, which uses the online capabilities of the internet and social media, making it a modern version of art activism – the immense networking opportunities and the ability to reach a larger audience. The findings show that artivism was grown from art in activism or art activism as early as the 1400s and the positive impacts artivism brings to communities