Graduation Date
2026
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Project Type
Mixed Methods
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Program
Art Therapy
Program Director
Richard Carolan, PhD, ATR-BC
First Reader
Stacey Kamp, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Lisa Manthe, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC
Abstract
During adolescence, peer relationships strongly influence development and emotional well-being. In addition, Adlerian theory emphasizes social interest and the importance of connectedness within the social environment. This mixed methods study explores the impact of a four-session group art therapy intervention in a middle school setting on young adolescents’ sense of belonging. Seven students in the seventh and eighth grade from a public middle school in Sacramento County participated in the study. Quantitative data were collected at two time points in the study, before and after the intervention, using the Sense of Belonging Scale (SBS). All seven participants demonstrated an increase in perceived sense of belonging from pre- to post-intervention. Qualitative data were gathered through session observations, participant artworks, and written reflections; thematic analysis was conducted to identify patterns in how belonging developed within the group. Four themes were identified, including “Connecting Through Shared Interests and Humor,” “Connection, Tension, and Variation in Collaboration,” “Emergence of Shared Group Identity and Language,” and “Development of Peer-Awareness and Emotional Attachment to the Group.” The findings suggest that though belonging was experienced unevenly among participants, group art therapy may support middle school students by providing opportunities for connection, self-expression, and shared meaning-making. The implications for future research point to the importance of considering developmental stage, group composition, and intervention structure in school-based group art therapy.
IRB Number
11314