Thesis (M.S.)--Central Connecticut State University, 1997. / Thesis advisor: Judith Rosenberg. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 62-69).

For some older adults in hospice, confronting end-of-life issues is frightening. It can also be alarming for loved ones and family members. Gerontologists recommend that people who are confronting death tell stories about their lives to reveal and create meanings for themselves. Hospice team members encourage individuals to express their thoughts and feelings to enhance and solidify meaning in one's life. This qualitative study utilizes reminiscing and creativity as a way for older adults in hospice to confront end-of-life issues, strengthen relationships and solidify meaning in life. The encompassing research question asks "How does art therapy help older adults in hospice express the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of one's life?" Two other questions are asked, "In the context of hospice, what is the nature and meaning communicated by dying individuals, their loved ones and family members using reminiscing and art-making?, and "In the context of hospice, what is the nature and meaning that the created art object(s) has to the older adult, their loved ones and family members who participated in the art-making experience? Interviews were conducted with three family units. Each family unit consisted of an older adult in hospice and one of their loved ones. Interviews revealed stories about highlighted events, experiences and achievements, and an illustration was created to depict and symbolize that story. The final meeting consisted of a collaborative collage-making project depicting many of the highlighted stories, events and experiences of the older adult in hospice. The data was analyzed using grounded theory, which is also known as the constant comparative method. The results reinforce that older adults in hospice, as well as loved ones, benefited from reminiscing and creatively expressing expression, and hence it is a useful tool for individuals to solidify meaning and strengthen relationships as one confronts end-of-life issues. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Art Education in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2008. / March 5, 2008. / Aging, Creativity, Existentialism, Art, Death Education, Art Education, Art Therapy / Includes bibliographical references. / David Gussak, Professor Directing Dissertation; Linda Vinton, Outside Committee Member; Marcia Rosal, Committee Member; Penelope Orr, Committee Member.

Art-based assessment instruments are used by many art therapists to: determine a client's level of functioning; formulate treatment objectives; assess a client's strengths; gain a deeper understanding of a client's presenting problems; and evaluate client progress. To ensure the appropriate use of drawing tests, evaluation of instrument validity and reliability is imperative. Thirty-five published and unpublished quantitative studies related to art therapy assessments and rating instruments were systematically analyzed. The tools examined in the analysis are: A Favorite Kind of Day (AFKOD); the Bird's Nest Drawing (BND); the Bridge Drawing; the Diagnostic Drawing Series (DDS), the Child Diagnostic Drawing Series (CDDS); and the Person Picking an Apple from a Tree (PPAT). Rating instruments are also investigated, including the Descriptive Assessment of Psychiatric Art (DAPA), the DDS Rating Guide and Drawing Analysis Form (DAF), and the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS). Descriptive results and synthesis outcomes reveal that art therapists are still in a nascent stage of understanding assessments and rating instruments, that flaws in the art therapy assessment and rating instrument literature research are numerous, and that much work has yet to be done. The null hypothesis, that homogeneity exists among the study variables identified in art therapy assessment and rating instrument literature, was rejected. Variability of the concurrent validity and inter-rater reliability meta-analyses results indicates that the field of art therapy has not yet produced sufficient research in the area of assessments and rating instruments to determine whether art therapy assessments can provide enough information about clients or measure the process of change that a client may experience in therapy. Based on a review of the literature, it was determined that the most effective approach to assessment incorporates objective measures such as standardized assessment procedures (formalized assessment tools and rating manuals; portfolio evaluation; behavioral checklists), as well as subjective approaches such as the client's interpretation of his or her artwork. Due to the inconclusive results of the present study, it is recommended that researchers continue to explore both objective and subjective approaches to assessment. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Art Education in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2005. / April 11, 2005. / Meta-Analysis, Literature Review, Projectives, Projective Techniques, Projective Tests / Includes bibliographical references. / Marcia L. Rosal, Professor Directing Dissertation; Susan Carol Losh, Outside Committee Member; David E. Gussak, Committee Member; Penelope Orr, Committee Member.

In this thesis the process of developing a program for the arts to be implemented in a state Department of Corrections treatment program will be investigated. The purpose of the study was to uncover the method of how art therapy can be incorporated into an arts program as part of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment that is specific for the incarcerated population. The committee of the Arts in Corrections (AIC) included a total of ten members, six females and four men. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher observed and interviewed the committee members to obtain data pertaining to two different areas. The first area that the researcher collected data for analysis concerned how external factors influenced the interactions and negotiations in relation to the implementation and development of the program. The researcher also noted the influence of social and cultural structures of the committee in particular how power ran politics influenced decision making. Ultimately what the study discovered was that the external and internal factors had a negative effect on the development of the Arts in Corrections program. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2008. / July 7, 2008. / Art Therapy / Includes bibliographical references. / David Gussak, Professor Directing Thesis; Marcia Rosal, Committee Member; Penelope Orr, Committee Member.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed during childhood. The primary symptoms of ASD include language impairments and deficits in social skills, which can negatively affect the overall quality of life. Traditional treatment for ASD includes medication, applied behavior analysis, physical therapy, and occupational therapy; however, these treatments may have unwanted side effects and fail to address the psychosocial challenges that may result from ASD symptoms. There has been increasing interest in alternative forms of therapy, such as creative art therapies; however, the types of creative art that have been used during therapy and their benefits are not well-established. This literature review examined the effects of creative art therapy interventions on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes in youth with ASD. A total of nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies examined music or drama therapy, and all of the studies showed improvements in social skills outcomes. While more research is needed, there is promising evidence in the literature that creative art therapies can be effective in improving symptoms and helping promote positive behaviors.

It was hypothesized that art therapy with the elderly would increase the quality of an informal life review and motivate them toward greater psychological well-being (life satisfaction). To test this hypothesis, 30 subjects between the ages of 61 and 83 were assigned to three experimental conditions: Art Therapy Group, Discussion Group, and Control Group.

Art has long been used as a healing method. Thousands of years ago, the Greeks designed temples to surround patients with art and nature and to promote healing and harmony. Today, a growing amount of evidence-based design research proves that hospitals need to be more mindful of the healing environment through better design and inclusion of the arts to reduce stress, lower costs and shorten hospital stays. This report follows Aaron Darling, an artist and part-time nurse based in Austin, Texas, who has seen a need for such change in local hospitals. Through expansive nature-themed wall murals, Darling hopes to improve the blank walls he has seen in hospital hallways and patient rooms and increase the presence of local art in Austin-area hospitals, starting with Seton Medical Center. His story sheds light on other local professionals using art to heal, such as art therapists, and successful healing arts programs, including Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. More than that, this report highlights the power of art itself to serve patients by improving healing spaces and acting as a positive distraction in an oftentimes scary place: the hospital. / text

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Art Therapy is a psychotherapeutic process involving the use of art materials. The art therapy case studies of three paraphilic clients is reviewed. Based on a model of art therapy that considers the process, the artwork and the triangular (client, therapist and the artwork) relationship, the case study reviews and explores the treatment of a voyeuristic, an exhibitionistic and a transvestic client. In their artwork, important material emerged. In this thesis, the material is initially viewed as a secret, as it emerged not in words but in the artwork. The study offers insights about three paraphilias based on the casework material. The study also contributes to an understanding of how art therapists may work with clients who have sexual troubles. / Master of Arts (Hons.) (Art therapy)

Thesis (M.S.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2003. / Thesis advisor: Judith Rosenberg. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-36). Also available via the World Wide Web.