Thesis (Ph. D.) in Individualized in Arts and Counseling--University of Maine, 2003. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 294-307).

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The main purpose of this thesis is to explore experiences of two different psychological interventions based on art psychotherapy in women with a psychological or physical illness. The two interventions are art psychotherapy and art therapy. The difference between these two interventions is that the art therapist works with the transference in art psychotherapy but not in art therapy. The thesis consists of two studies of art psychotherapy: An art psychotherapy intervention is evaluated in Study 1 (papers III and V) which examines a group of patients diagnosed with depression and Study 2 (paper II) which examines experiences in a group of six patients diagnosed with vulva vestibulitis. An art therapy intervention is evaluated in the third study (papers I and IV); where experiences in patients diagnosed with breast cancer are examined. In Study 1, forty-three (n=43) depressed women were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group (verbal psychotherapy). The aim was to examine the outcome of time limited psychodynamic art therapy compared to time-limited psychodynamic verbal therapy for patients with depressive symptoms. Interviews were performed before, immediately after, and three months after the termination of psychotherapy, and self-rating scales which focus on stress reactions, depression and symptoms as well as an observer rating scale on depression were used. The interviews and the art sessions were video-recorded, and the verbal psychotherapy was tape-recorded. The results showed that the art and verbal psychotherapies were comparable. The conclusion was that short-term psychodynamic art psychotherapy could be a valuable treatment for depressed women. In an in-depth content analysis, the method of scribbling was further investigated and exemplified with the therapies of two participants. In this study, the patients’ pictures and verbal expressions of progress, along with considerations of how to interpret the pictures were in focus. When leaving therapy the two patients took advantage of the paper, made complete forms, symbolised in words what they have expressed in pictures; in pace with psychotherapy the themes alter towards separation, individuation, and attempt to relate in a new way. The conclusion was that limelimited psychodynamic art therapy suggests giving a safer place for the self as the cohesion is firmer with better boundaries. Study 2 is a pilot study, which involved six young patients newly diagnosed with vulva vestibulitis. The aim of the study was to investigate pain at vestibulum, mental health, and self-image after fifteen sessions of art psychotherapy. Five of the patients were judged to have less pain three months after termination of therapy. The conclusion was that art psychotherapy with its openness seemed to affect young women in their experiences of vulva vestibulitis in a positive direction. Study 3 examined the potential benefit of art therapy for women with primary breast cancer. The sample comprised forty-one (n=41) patients who were randomly assigned either to an art therapy group or to a control group. The art therapy was going on during five weeks radiation treatment, one session per week. The aim was to investigate the outcome of art therapy, to quantify and compare the participant coping s, self-image, and the symptoms with the participant in the control group. Interviews were performed before, immediately after, and six month after inclusion. A set of self-rating scales was used: Coping Resources Inventory, the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior, and Symptom Check List – 90. The result showed that the patients in the art therapy group rated their coping s and especially their social s, higher than the control group, and that the average patients in the art therapy group improved in depressive symptoms and symptoms of anxiety, and that the general psychiatric symptoms improved as well. A linear regression analysis showed a tendency that the coping s increased in the art therapy group and decreased in the control group or even stagnated in the social domain. A second report on self-image, symptoms, treatment, and social variables showed that art therapy was related to lower ratings of depression, anxiety, and general symptoms after treatment; chemotherapeutic treatment predicted lower depressive symptoms and general symptoms in contrast to axilliary surgery and hormonal treatment. The results showed that art therapy could be valuable complementary therapy in routine oncology practise. The conclusion is that art therapy can have a positive long-term effect on the crisis following the primary breast cancer and its consequences. Conclusion: The results show that time-limited psychodynamic art psychotherapy is valuable for depressed women; that it is a valuable complement for women with vulva vestibulitis; and that art therapy is a valuable complement in the care and cure of women with primary breast cancer.

Inledning: Bildterapi/bildpsykoterapi är en metod där bildskapande används i terapeutiskt syfte. Bildterapi som metod återfinns inom olika psykoterapeutiska riktningar men den psykodynamiska teorigrunden är vanligast förekommande. På senare år har flera översiktstudier och RCT-studier om bildterapi som behandlingsmetod publicerats. Studier där klienter har kommit till tals och delat sina erfarenheter av metoden är än så länge mindre vanligt förekommande. Således är syftet med föreliggande studie att undersöka klienters subjektiva upplevelse av bildterapi inom en psykodynamisk terapi. Frågeställningar: Hur upplever klienter bildterapi inom en psykodynamisk terapi? Hur upplever klienter att bildterapi påverkar relationen till terapeuten? Hur upplever klienter att bildterapi påverkar förståelsen av sig själv? Metod: Studien baseras på intervjuer från fem kvinnor mellan 36 och 63 år som deltagit i bildterapi inom en psykodynamisk terapi. Intervjudata analyserades med hjälp av tolkande fenomenologisk analys. Resultat: Den terapeutiska alliansens hade stor betydelse och berodde enligt deltagarna främst på terapeutens professionalism och förmåga att skapa trygghet. Bildterapin upplevdes också som en metod som underlättade att uttrycka, bli medveten om och hantera känslor och som en metod som hjälpte deltagaren att släppa kontroll och komma förbi försvar. Att bilden synliggjorde både medvetna och omedvetna känslor och tankar på ett konkret sätt betonades av deltagarna. Slutligen visade resultatet att deltagarna upplevde att de fått en ökad självförståelse och förändrad självbild. Alla deltagarna i studien betonade dock det omöjliga med att i ord uttrycka allt det som bilderna kunde förmedla. Diskussion: Resultatet diskuterades bland annat utifrån andra terapiformer där stor vikt läggs vid att medvetandegöra, uttrycka och hantera känslor. Den terapeutiska relationen ansågs ha avgörande betydelse men tycktes inte i första hand vara ett resultat av bildterapimetoden. Att bilderna sparades och fanns tillgängliga för att senare kunna betraktas och samtalas om gjorde enligt deltagarna att den egna förändringsprocessen blev tydlig på ett konkret sätt. Slutligen diskuterades vikten av att klienters subjektiva upplevelser ges utrymme i forskningen. / Introduction: Art therapy/Art psychotherapy is a method in which image creation is used for therapeutic purposes. Art therapy as a method is found in different psychotherapeutic orientations, but the psychodynamic theory is most common. In recent years, several overview studies and RCT studies on Art Therapy as a treatment method have been published. Studies where clients have come to terms and shared their experience of the method are so far less widespread. This study aims to investigate clients' subjective experience of Art Therapy in psychodynamic therapy. Issues: How does the client experience Art Therapy in a psychodynamic therapy? How does the client experience the impact of Art Therapy on the relationship with the therapist? How does the client experience that Art Therapy affects the understanding of him or herself? Method: The study is based on interviews from five women between 36 and 63 years of age who participated in Art Therapy in psychodynamic therapy. Interview data were analyzed using Interpreting Phenomenological Analysis. Result: Therapeutic alliance proved to be of great importance and, according to the participants, was mainly due to the therapist's professionalism and ability to create security. Art Therapy was further perceived as a method that facilitated expressing, becoming aware and managing emotions and a method that helped the participant to let go of control and lessen the defence. The participants emphasized the fact that the image revealed both conscious and unconscious feelings and thoughts in a concrete way. Finally, the results showed that the participants’ expressed that they had gained self-understanding and changed their self-image. All the participants in the study emphasized the impossibility that in words to express everything that the images could reveal. Discussion: The outcome was discussed, inter alia, from other therapies where great emphasis is placed on consciousness, expressing and managing emotions. The therapeutic relationship was considered to be crucial but did not appear to be primarily a result of the Art Therapy method. The fact that the images were saved and were available for later consideration and discussion was, according to the participants, that their own change process became apparent in a visible way. Finally, the importance of giving space in research for clients’ subjective experience was discussed.

Syfte Manualbaserad bildterapi har bevisad effekt för vuxna med depression och en pilotstudie har undersökt metoden för ungdomar med depression. Denna studie undersökte bildterapeuters uppfattningar av att arbeta med manualbaserad bildterapi med ungdomar med depression. Metod Delfimetoden användes för att digitalt samla in fyra bildterapeuters uppfattningar av att arbeta med manualbaserad bildterapi med ungdomar. Öppna frågor analyserades med innehållsanalys vilket resulterade i kodad data. Koder sammanställdes till frågor och sedan formulerades påståenden utifrån expertpanelens skattningar. Studien pågick i fyra steg.   Resultat Denna studie visade bildterapeuters uppfattningar av att arbeta med manualbaserad bildterapi inom barn- och ungdomspsykiatri. Studiens expertgrupp omfattade alla experter som har använt manualen i denna kontext. Studien utmynnade i expertskattningar av 26 påstående inom kategorierna: tillfredsställelse, utveckling,struktur, ungdomsanpassning, individcentrering, terapeutens kunskap, flexibilitet, psykisk ohälsa och hälsofrämjande. Expertgruppen instämde helt i att bildterapeutens kompetens som bildterapeut, yrkeserfarenhet av målgruppen och bildövningarna var viktiga för behandlingen. Samtliga instämde också helt i att ungdomarnas självkännedom ökade och att manualen kunde vara användbar i delar. Bildterapeutiska processer och terapeutisk potential presenterades utifrån neurovetenskaplig kunskap. Slutsats Behandlingsutbudet för depression hos ungdomar är begränsad i Sverige. Ur denna studie framträder uppfattningar om manualbaserad bildterapi som metod och uppfattningar om dess lämplighet för andra ungdomar inom barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin. Expertgruppen prioriterade bildterapeutens specifika kompetens. Studiens storlek och behandlingens potential är skäl till att fler studier behövs. / Aims Manual-based art therapy [MBAT] has proven effective for adults with depression and a pilot study has examined it as a treatment för adolescents with depression. This study aims to investigate art therapists’ impressions of using MBAT with adolescents with depression.   Methods The Delphi method was used to digitally collect four art therapists’ impressions of using MBAT with adolescents. Content analysis of open questions resulted in coded data. Codes formed the basis for questions and statements were formulated based on the ratings of the expert panel. The study was conducted in four stages.   Results   This study shows art therapists impressions of MBAT within adolescent psychiatry. The expert panel included all art therapists with relevant experience. The study culminated in ratings of 26 statements within the categories: satisfaction, development, structure, adolescent modifications, individual-centred, therapist expertise, flexibility, mental illness and well-being. The panel consistently recognized that the art therapist’s expertise as an art therapist, experience from working with the patient group, and the art interventions themselves as essential to the treatment. The panel found that adolescents’ self-knowledge improved and considered isolated  components of the manual useful. The therapeutic processes and potential of art therapy are presented based on current neurological understanding. Conclusion Recommended treatments for adolescent depression are limited in Sweden. This study highlights impressions of MBAT and belief in its suitability for other adolescents within adolescent psychiatry. The expert group prioritized the specific expertise of the art therapist. The limited size of the panel and the promise of MBAT are reasons for further study.

This study explores the possible use of digital media as an effective psychotherapeutic aid in art psychotherapy, specifically in addressing the effects of trauma experienced by adolescents. A literature review provides evidence on what exactly can be understood under the concepts 'art psychotherapy' and 'digital media'. The literature study further investigates trauma, its treatment and how art psychotherapy can be used as a psychotherapeutic tool with adolescents who have been exposed to trauma. An empirical study including six participants, chosen through a specific sampling process, and whose background information regulates the appropriate methods of intervention demonstrates the practicality of digital media in art psychotherapy. Data gathered from pre-assessment activities, art psychotherapy sessions and post-assessment activities are analysed, interpreted, and reduced through a systematic process. The empirical findings are then presented in a detailed, concise manner From the empirical investigation, it is determined that digital media can be used as a successful tool in art psychotherapy, specifically with adolescents who have experienced trauma. The researcher gained experience in the implementation of digital media in art psychotherapy and was able to provide valuable information about this practice, specifically for professionals interested in the field of art psychotherapy. The researcher was also able to identify limitations and further areas for research in this field. / Psychology of Education / M. A. (Guidance and Counselling)--University of South Africa --2013

This study explores the possible use of digital media as an effective psychotherapeutic aid in art psychotherapy, specifically in addressing the effects of trauma experienced by adolescents. A literature review provides evidence on what exactly can be understood under the concepts 'art psychotherapy' and 'digital media'. The literature study further investigates trauma, its treatment and how art psychotherapy can be used as a psychotherapeutic tool with adolescents who have been exposed to trauma. An empirical study including six participants, chosen through a specific sampling process, and whose background information regulates the appropriate methods of intervention demonstrates the practicality of digital media in art psychotherapy. Data gathered from pre-assessment activities, art psychotherapy sessions and post-assessment activities are analysed, interpreted, and reduced through a systematic process. The empirical findings are then presented in a detailed, concise manner From the empirical investigation, it is determined that digital media can be used as a successful tool in art psychotherapy, specifically with adolescents who have experienced trauma. The researcher gained experience in the implementation of digital media in art psychotherapy and was able to provide valuable information about this practice, specifically for professionals interested in the field of art psychotherapy. The researcher was also able to identify limitations and further areas for research in this field. / Psychology of Education / M. A. (Guidance and Counselling)

The fundamental theme is the communication between the adoptive parents and an adopted child especially choosing the appropriate way of telling the truth and right timing of the fact of adoption. This thesis compares the attitudes of psychologists and other professionals, especially social workers with experiences with adoptive parents and adopted children through the casuistries. Another significant theme in this thesis is an identity of the adoptive parents and adopted children. The thesis describes some methods and techniques that find easier way of telling the truth to the child which are contemporaneusly facilitating with the developmental psychology. In detail then I am describing the concrete methods and techniques, especially art psychotherapy, bibliotherapy, autogenous training.