This research explores the therapeutic characteristics of the art‟s sensory properties in art therapy treatment for children with developmental trauma. The researcher used interview as a method for gathering data in the qualitative research design. Two art therapists were interviewed individually in order to gain a deeper understanding about the research topic. The participants were selected based on their knowledge and practice utilizing art therapy in cases related to developmental trauma. The data gathered were coded and analyzed for emergent findings. The researcher finds that sensory-based art therapy facilitates regulation of affect and behavior, attachment repair, and the potential to process trauma memory through regression in the art. Also, the therapist‟s role as a witness for the client and a provider of a safe holding space is found to be a crucial component in sensory-based art therapy. These findings suggest implications for clinical practice and the careful construction of sensory-based art therapy according to the client‟s developmental age. Regression stimulated by loose art media may be a key component of trauma treatment. In order to regulate a child‟s affect and behavior, the art material and its quantity must be carefully selected based on its inherent sensory properties. Containment and attachment repair as the overarching goals of the art therapy treatment may also influence the selection of which art materials may be utilized. The researcher recommends a broader research study to explore treatment implications concerning sensory-based art interventions for children with developmental trauma.

This study explores a beginning clinician’s use of art and journaling to process case material, clarify countertransference, identify signs of compassion fatigue and illuminate instances of personal growth. The clinician used a mixed methodology in her research including both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The quantitative analysis consisted of a battery of valid and reliable, evidence-based, self-administered tests at the beginning and end of data collection to measure compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. The qualitative analysis involved the clinician making art and keeping a journal over 10 weeks’ time as tools to process and clarify case material and countertransference. These materials were then converted into data sets for comparative analysis. Research questions were adapted from two previous studies related to a beginning clinician’s experiences of countertransference (Arbas, 2008, Karner, 2011). To inform this study the literature review discusses special considerations for clinicians working with dying patients and their families. These include, but are not limited to, the need for an existential, humanistic, and flexible therapeutic approach; grief interventions for bereaved clients and clinicians; and specialized approaches and considerations related to transference and countertransference. The study also discusses how art and journaling can not only be used to process clinical material but also as an effective method of self care for the beginning clinician. The personal art made in response to case material and countertransference as well as the journal entries conveyed the responses of a beginning clinician working in a second-year practicum with dying patients of all ages and socioeconomic levels, and their families. The analysis identifies themes of countertransference relating to personal loss, personal family dynamics, and personal existential issues. It also shows evidence of an increase in both compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. The data analysis in the study indicates that art has helped the beginning clinician clarify case material, identify countertransference, reduce emotional buildup, become aware of personal growth as a result of the work, and better attend to clients and clinical work. These findings correlate with findings of several other authors (Arbas, 2008, Deaver & Shiflett, 2011, Fish, 2012, Hardy, 2008, Harter, 2007, Karner, 2011, Miller, 2007, Wadeson, 2010)

The goal of this research was to understand the potential challenges and benefits of an integration between art and sex therapies. Three interviews were performed: two with certified art therapists, one with a certified sex therapist, in order to understand how each of these professionals has chosen to approach issues of sexuality and creative expression within his or her practice. The data from the interviews was critically compared within and between each interviewee, producing three overarching themes that provide a framework for understanding the potential benefits and challenges of this integration. These three themes are defined as: 1) The importance of theoretical training and scope of practice in unlocking sexuality; 2) Opening the door to sex and sexuality in clinical work using creative expression; and 3) Concerns and challenges for the clinician using artistic expression with sexuality. Through discussion of these themes, it was found that there is great potential for an integration of the two therapies, provided clinicians have access to appropriate training, as well as a deeper understanding of individual attitudes toward sexuality as provided by cultural experience.

In this study, 5 women with co-occurring DSM-IV-TR diagnoses in a residential treatment center for homeless veterans and their families received group mindfulness oriented art therapy during an 8-week intervention. Two of the participants were utilized in this case study research to explore how a mindfulness can be implemented in group art therapy and what impact this may have for the female veterans. The study included a qualitative analysis of the veteran’s artwork and the participants’ account of their own behavior. The findings revealed that participants used the art process to express a developing awareness of avoidance and denial often associated with both substance abuse and PTSD. The participants’ artwork and self-reports indicated enhanced flexibility in focus of attention, self-awareness, and self-regulation. The study demonstrated the potential of mindfulness oriented art therapy for enhancing healthy coping strategies.

This research examined the emergence of transference and countertransference within an interracial client-therapist relationship. The literature reviewed in this paper encompasses the different manifestations of transference and countertransference within the therapeutic space, cultural transference and countertransference, the way in which culture presents itself within the therapeutic environment, and the emergence of culture within the art psychotherapy relationship (in the case of this research, the focus was on areas of race and ethnicity as it pertains to culture). A case study approach was utilized with an 8-year-old Hispanic female and her family who received services from an African American art therapist. The findings indicate that [cultural] transference and countertransference are inevitable and should be closely monitored. The findings also suggest that art can serve as an effective tool for highlighting cultural factors. The research reinforced that cultural themes will naturally manifest as treatment progresses, and the dismissal of these cultural matters can result in negative consequences for the client, therapist, and the therapeutic relationship. This research also highlights the lack of attention given to culture within therapy, the need for more therapists to become trained in areas of culture to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse clientele, and for a greater sensitivity and attunement to cultural issues.

This study uses heuristic research as the basis for an art exploration into the experience of exposure to traumatic events leading to complex trauma, from early adolescence to adulthood. This paper reviews the existing literature about Islamic religious fundamentalism, political violence and war. The literature on risk factors and the effect on this type of trauma psychology, human rights and women’s rights are discussed. The literature review considers psychological treatment considerations and existing art therapy literature. In the data gathering phase the researcher employs the Art Therapy Trauma Protocol to examine the residual of violent experiences; this includes a series of paintings created using the bilateral stimulation process. After a period of incubation, the data is further culled and analyzed by using filtering with suggested symbolic meaning from various theorists and literature and personal interpretation drawn from dominant themes. This analysis happened during Illumination and Explication phases of the study. The finding of this study supports that the effect of the traumatic life experiences during adolescence has caused splitting in the researcher. This research asserts that using the art therapy method (ATTP) in combination with the heuristic methodology has helped the researcher to gain clarity about herself and provided a new perspective and schema about self and the world. The research process has helped the researcher to gain a holistic sense of herself as thriving after the traumatic life experiences rather switching between the split selves of the victim and survivor.

This paper is an account of the discoveries made during a heuristic study in which the researcher sought clarification of the personal meaning of caring for others as an art therapist in contrast with the experience of caring for oneself. After reviewing the potential dangers of burnout and compassion fatigue and examining various self-care strategies the researcher explored the personal meaning of this topic utilizing heuristic methodology. The process of collecting data consisted of a daily art-making task with varied media covering a two-week period. The researcher was able to highlight the importance of incorporating regular use of self-care into a daily routine to counterbalance the stressors, both personal and those associated with the art therapy profession.

This study explores the use of Helen Landgarten’s family art assessment in helping to inform therapists’ work with families. The study endeavors to evaluate a pilot project in which director of the Helen B. Landgarten Art Therapy Clinic, Dr. Paige Asawa, MFT, ATR-BC, implemented the Landgarten family art assessment at a local clinic with five families and involved family track clinicians through observation and discussion to inform their clinical treatment of families. Through program evaluation using a survey and an art-based research procedure, the study investigates family track clinicians’ experiences, recommendations, and opinions of the family art assessment. Ten family track clinicians participated in program evaluation in this study. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of participants’ survey answers and art responses served to solidify whether these clinicians found the family art assessment project beneficial to their clinical work with families. A synthesis of the literature, survey analysis, and art analysis reveals the value of having art therapists conduct family art assessments as an informative consultation for clinicians assessing and treating families. Study results may contribute to more formal inclusion of the family art assessment in assessment procedures at this local clinic. These results hold valuable implications for redefining the role of the art therapist as assessment expert, using art therapy to promote collaboration among mental health professionals, and ultimately improving the quality of clinical family care.

This paper explores the psychological concept of identity and how popular culture may be used as a theme in art therapy for exploring and repairing life story. The literature review defines identity from varying perspectives with emphasis on awareness of parallels between popular culture and the client’s personal story. These parallels may offer art therapists a framework of images and memories useful specifically to exploring identity development with clients. The case study places client’s identity into the context of popular culture unique to the experiences of the client at varying life stages.

This study sought to examine art’s ability to illuminate the biopsychosocial-cultural- spiritual impact of chronic medical disease. Chronic disease participants were self- selected and consisted of clinical supervisors, staff, and psychotherapy interns at a community-based mental health clinic in Los Angeles. Quantitative questionnaire data and art-based response data, both imagery and word descriptions, were examined. Data analysis combined with the synthesized literature revealed the complex biopsychosocial- cultural-spiritual interactions and interdependencies with chronic disease management. Findings supported art-based data’s potential to complement quantitative questionnaire data by providing additional insights into a holistic lived experience. Art and word analysis revealed themes and identified factors such as shame, uncertainty, and isolation, which affect health-related quality of life and treatment compliance. This research demonstrated arts-based data’s potential as a holistic healing, revealing, and diagnostic tool and exposes the need for further research into the benefits of integrating art therapy and including art-based data in the treatment and assessment of chronic disease. Keywords: chronic, persistent, medical disease, illness, syndrome, condition, disability, art as therapy, art therapy, creative arts therapy, art expression, arts-based research, clinical art psychotherapy, holistic questionnaire, art directive, art, adherence, compliance, biopsychosocial, biological, psychological, social, socio-environmental, cultural, spiritual, diabetes, asthma, cancer, medical model, medical art therapy, evidenced-based practice, complementary and alternative therapy, hospital, inpatient, outpatient.