This study explores the impact that traditional artmaking can have on the wellness of individuals who continue to practice their traditional crafts. Limited research has explored how culturally adapted art therapy practices and culturally relevant materials can promote wellness and alleviate emotional and acculturation challenges for multicultural populations. This research included a case study approach that invited five participants who regularly engaged in a traditional artmaking practice to continue their practice for four consecutive weeks and reflect on their sense of wellness after each traditional artmaking engagement. Over the four weeks, participants completed an initial survey to assess their baseline sense of wellness, weekly surveys that included the WHO-5 Well-being Index, and a final interview over Zoom web conferencing. Through a thematic analysis of the qualitative data, the researchers recognized two overarching themes: (1) the sense of wellness through experiencing a connection to culture, and (2) connection to heritage and present-moment awareness. The survey results revealed that environmental stressors often impacted the participant’s ability to rate wellness in connection to their artmaking practice and that their practice was a helpful distraction that positively impacted wellness. This research suggests that engaging in traditional cultural art practices can increase an individual’s sense of wellness through a deeper connection to their culture and their present-moment awareness. Further studies regarding traditional cultural artmaking practices and their impact on wellness may inspire and support art therapists in decolonizing therapeutic approaches and empowering multicultural communities and individuals.

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 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.

This research explores the role of the art therapist in a nonclinical setting. The research dissects the experiences of nine art therapists who participated in an artist residency that was informed by art therapy but was not clinically based. The spectrum of literature reviewed focused on the professional identity of art therapists and therapists as well as social action art therapy and working with Native American cultures. A qualitative approach was utilized through the conduction of a focus group along with four individual interviews, which were both enhanced by a parallel art making process. Analysis of the data resulted in four significant themes: illuminating strengths and activating existing resources, containment, chaos, and finding hope amidst inadequacy. The findings were triangulated with the art therapy literature reviewed on the identity of the art therapist as well as leading art therapists’ visions for the field’s future. The research accentuates the complexity and significance of art therapists participating culturally informed, with underserved communities and redefining their role in order to carry out that purpose. In sum, the research offers insight into how art therapists can creatively and with great sensitivity, “meet clients where they are at”.

This research project qualitatively explores how teachers address social-emotional learning and how educators understand and implement SEL and art therapy in early education. This research aimed to explore how art therapy theories can support teachers in their efforts to create socially and emotionally competent early education classrooms. Data collected included anonymous surveys from current kindergarten through third-grade teachers. Through data analysis, several findings suggest that art therapists, mental health practitioners, and teachers can benefit from collaboration in increasing access and training with SEL practices. These findings open new doors for further inquiry into art therapy and SEL.

No description available.

This research uses critical theory inquiry with interviews and arts-based research to explore biases about art making in clinical art therapy practice. The literature review establishes an historical link between theoretical tenets in fields of art therapy and art history. Participants are chosen from experts in the fields of art therapy and art history. Interviews explore what art making means to each participant, utilizing both verbal and arts-based processing. The data is condensed through coding and arts-based reflection, and seven emergent themes are identified. The themes are checked with the participants for accuracy. The findings of the paper integrate the insight from the literature review with the expressed views of the participants to illuminate meaning-making processes of art. The paper concludes with identification of an “art historical lens” for practicing art therapy and discussion of treatment considerations, limitations of the study, and suggestions for further research.

The goal of my thesis is to introduce professionals concerned with special educational or art with the art techniques with elements of art which are suitable for individuals with mental disabilities. In the theoretical part, I looked at the themes: Children's creative expression, Special art, Art Therapy, Symbols in art therapy, Goals of art therapy, Art Therapy techniques, Mental ratardacion In the practical part I have to invent an individual training - methodology for working with mentally handicapped and implement various activities with elements of visual art.

The Diploma Thesis "Utilization of art therapy methods and techniques in social services for mentally disabled people" deals with topic of art therapy and its elements which are used while working with mentally disabled people. The thesis defines the term art therapy and describes art therapy methods and techniques which are used in social services for mentally disabled people. Object of the thesis is to ascertain to what extent art therapy methods and techniques are utilized while working with mentally disabled people and whether these methods and techniques help to develop mentally disabled people. The theoretical part of the thesis defines the term art therapy and its position in a system of coordinated rehabilitation. It also describes the history of art therapy, its forms and possibilities of utilization of colors in art therapy. The other part of the theoretical part defines mental retardation and its classification and social services for mentally retarded people are described here as well. In the end, the theoretical part is devoted to art therapy methods and techniques. The practical part of the thesis deals with two researches. The quantitative one which was performed with mentally retarded people ascertains whether mentally retarded people like using art therapy methods and techniques...