This research explores mentorship as it developed through the lived experience of adolescents who participated in a community arts outreach program, for a lower SES Latino population. The purpose is to identify different roles of mentorships and relationships that contribute to the program. The literature review looked specifically into adolescents as mentors, understanding the developmental impact on mentees, such as peer relationships and natural mentors focusing on the Latino culture. The art therapy literature looked at art therapy and the affects on the Latino culture as well as art therapy process in community-based programs. Utilizing qualitative methodology the researcher conducted an open-based interview that including art directives. The collected data explored the lived experiences from two original members, based on their participation as mentee’s and mentors in the program. The results of the data emerged into themes that emphasize the value of mentors for adolescents, the value of natural mentors and the connection to collectivistic values in a Latino culture.

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.

The researchers in this project studied the prevalence and impact of burnout among first responders, after which they produced CRISP (Creative Resilience Initiatives for Service Providers), a groundbreaking art therapy-based program published in an electronic book format aimed at addressing burnout and fostering resilience among first responders. Our program aims to foster resilience by integrating art therapy's Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) model with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and anti-racism strategies. The ETC model aligns with inclusive and diverse practices as it emphasizes a system-focused approach in using creativity, self-reflection, and cultivation of effective body-mind empathy. The CRISP eBook features 18 arts-based activities, each accompanied by relevant psychoeducation and self-reflective questions. These activities engage first responders in kinesthetic, sensorial, perceptual, affective, cognitive, and symbolic components of information processing in the ETC, utilizing multifaceted creativity as a powerful tool for building resilience and countering burnout signs that can lead to depersonalized and biased practices in their work. Future studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of art interventions, such as those explored in the CRISP eBook, in addressing the unique stressors faced by first responders.

This research explores the question: how does an art therapist’s understanding of God as Creator form his/her identity and inform his/her clinical practice? A review was done in the art therapy, spirituality and psychology integration, and creation theology literature to look at existing research that answers this question. A lack of information in the art therapy literature prompted the development of this study to respond to this inquiry. This involved gathering data from LMU MFT graduates who expressed in a survey that they were willing to participate in this study. Four graduates were able to attend an art workshop to explore the research question. Qualitative data was gathered from observing the participants’ process, artwork, and discussion in the workshop as well as their written reflections sent in three weeks later. This data was analyzed by looking at emergent themes that were then compared with the literature. Two significant conclusions were drawn from the data. The first was that an awareness and understanding of God as Creator can provide a unique perspective of self and others that has a considerable impact on an art therapist’s view of his/her role and approach to clinical work. The second conclusion was that there is a powerful connection between spirituality and creativity, that when allowed to enter into the therapeutic space, can enhance transformation and healing. These conclusions have important implications for the training and practice of art therapists. Further research is recommended to expand the data as well as focus on specific areas that this research was unable to cover.

This research project aims to explore how art therapists use textiles in clinical practice and personal artmaking and to learn about the perceived benefits and challenges of this type of work. The study utilizes a Qualtrics survey, with 70 participants, and a focus group methodology, with 4 art therapists. Through the analysis of the participants’ conversations, artwork, and survey information, emergent themes were identified related to examining biases of gender identity, challenges related to considerations of time, the repetitive and slow nature that are particular mindful qualities of textile making, potentially heightened benefits of textile work with children and adolescents, and a call to reexamine boundaries of technique with the inclusion of unstructured textile exploration. Art therapists described benefits for clients particularly related to trauma work, grounding, and sense of mastery. These themes emphasized findings that illuminate the value of working with textiles in personal artmaking and in art therapeutic environments.

This paper uses a qualitative approach to explore quantitative assessment tools and their use in art therapy research with patients with cancer. An archival method was used to gather articles on cancer research which were compiled from peer-reviewed journal articles available online. The author used a systematic analysis to select articles that met the specific research criteria of working with cancer patients in a medical setting, included the implementation of art therapy, and the administration of a pre- and post-test. Twenty-two quantitative assessments fit these criteria. Further exploration was conducted on the five most common assessment tools. These five assessments were further analyzed for emergent themes and characteristics. These common traits were that all of the assessments were self-report questionnaires, four out of five were Likert scales, the assessments were chosen for their accessibility, and many of the research studies were not accessible to a diverse population. It was concluded that these quantitative assessment tools are helpful in art therapy as they contribute towards creating quantifiable results in the research. It may be useful to implement these assessment tools in further art therapy research with cancer patients in order for art therapy to be more frequently employed in medical settings.

Patients who have/had cancer are often left with emotional distress, as well as, anxiety, and depression amongst other effects. Art therapy based curriculums have been utilized with patients that have/had cancer with promising results of decreasing emotional distress and other effects. Five different art therapy based curriculums are explored through archival research approach. Through this approach, information is collected to explore five research questions that are presented to understand how these art therapy-based curriculums can help patients who have/had cancer. These research questions explore the type of interventions being utilized in the curriculum when the curriculum is being implemented in the patient’s treatment, what the demographics are for the curriculums that are being used, the structure of the workshops where these curriculums are taking place and what the impact was of the curriculums. The significant finding was that interventions such as mindfulness, relaxation activities and reflection on self decreased emotional distress. A more extensive selection of curriculums would have been beneficial in finding more themes and provide evidence that art therapy based curriculums can help the patient that has/had cancer.

This document reviews qualitative assessments used to explore the impact on art therapy interventions with patients in cancer treatment. The study explored the use of qualitative assessment in evaluating patient perspective on receiving art therapy adjunctly with cancer treatment. In addition, the research aimed to determine if art therapy interventions are perceived as effective in helping cancer patients reduce stress, cope, improve quality of life, express emotions, and reduce cancer-related symptoms during and after cancer treatment through qualitative assessment. Approximately 300 cancer patient experiences were reviewed through surveying qualitative studies that explored the effects of art making in cancer treatment through qualitative assessment such as interviews, questionnaires, observations, and open-ended questions. This archival research used a thematic approach to identify emergent themes in format, administration techniques, and impact in qualitative assessments to learn about the patient art therapy experience. The emergent themes were discovered while surveying information regarding types of formats and administration procedures used in qualitative cancer research. These findings suggest that qualitative assessments used in art therapy programs are a useful tool to determine how art interventions may help address patient's psychosocial needs, provide coping skills, and relieve cancer–related symptoms.

Empathy within law enforcement has not been examined in the art therapy literature. This qualitative study provides insight into how empathy is perceived and experienced by retired law enforcement officers in San Diego, CA. Fourteen participants responded to a brief questionnaire, created an art piece and a written response about how empathy is experienced within law enforcement. The results illuminated common themes within the art and written responses including interactions, witnessing of a traumatic situation, intersection of roles within law enforcement, understanding of feelings, and communication. Future research in this area is recommended to also include current officers as well as retired law enforcement officers in order to attain a broader scope of data.

This research adopts a heuristic method of inquiry to explore the intersections of social justice theory, cultural humility, and community art therapy to strengthen both the internal awareness and art therapy practices of the researcher. Data was collected over a structured eight-week period through art-making and reflective writing. Six core themes were extrapolated from the data, which were then applied to the researcher’s experience with a community-based art therapy engagement. Through this process of investigating authentic self-reflection and deep consideration for community-based applications, the researcher illuminated personal biases, beliefs, and assumptions to better understand personal and societal implications of the adoption of a more culturally humble art therapy practice.