As the only Master of Arts in Art Therapy program in Northern California, Dominican University of California offers an intimate on-campus learning environment designed to prepare students for successful careers in art therapy while encouraging the artistic and therapeutic process.
This site brings together a collection of master's theses from the students of the Art Therapy program.
Theses/Capstones from 2012
The Efficacy of Sandplay as an Art Therapy Intervention to Improve Communication Between Children With Autism and Their Familes, Julie Rittenmyer
Understanding Parenting Styles, Parenting Satisfaction, and Bird's Nest Drawings of Chinese Immigrant and Euro-American Mothers, Susan M. Lindblade
Using Draw-A-Person in the Rain Projective Drawing Assessment in Measuring Resilience and Coping in Children, Maria Paull
Using Idiomatic Expressions as a Stimulus for Art Therapy with Adolescents With Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism, Kristen Haney
What is Family? Examining Polyamorous Families: Implications for Art Therapists, Jessie Craig
Theses/Capstones from 2011
A Qualitative Study with Art Therapists on the Use of Art as Self-Care in Addressing Vicarious Trauma, Rachel A. Votaw
Art Therapy: Couple Experience an Elevation of Mood Following Creating a Mandala Together, Patricia J. Doolittle
Assessing Inmate Attachment Through the Bird's Nest Drawing: Art Therapy in a Correctional Setting, Lucas Patrick Ketelle
Coping Resources Among First Generation Korean-American Elders, Minhee Huh
Focusing-Oriented Art Therapy in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Enhance Quality of Life, Marise Lariviere
Fostering Self-Esteem in Adolescent with Epidermolysis Bullosa: Group Art Therapy in Summer Camp, Jennifer Innes
Group Art Therapy to Reduce Stress in Aging and Elderly People with Intellectual Disabilities, Mandi Baughman
Honoring Mothers with Self-Car Through the Use of Art, Kathleen Dancing Brand
Multimedia Life Memories as Life Review for Alzheimer's Family Caregivers, Clara Joon-Hee Kim Hahn
Original and Digital AVPT: An Art-Based Assessment Comparison Study, Catherine Pei-Fang Hsin
Pediatric Medical Art Therapy: A Grant to Implement an Art Therapy Position to an Existing Artist-In-Residence Program, Hayley D. Oggel
Pro-Active Social Skills (PASS) Program: Using Art Therapy, Positive Psychology, Skillstreaming, and Values in Action to Develop Positive Social Skills, Shanon Alana Murray
The Application of Art Therapy's Scribble Drawing Art Directive in Grief Counseling With Adults, Jennifer F. Liu
The Triple Spiral at Newgrange: Historical Research of its Signifigance and Implications for Art Therapy, Jacqueline Eaton
The Use of Madalas to Reduce Stress in a Homeless Shelter and A Correlation Study of Parent-Child Stress Levels and AVPT Image Choice, Coralia Cooper
The Use of Mandalas as a Developmental Assessment of Emerging Adulthood, Sara Barulich
The Use of Photo Art Therapy to Increase Self-Esteem in Hispanic Adolescents, Janet Siegel
Using Precision Drawing Tools with Men in Art Therapy, Jeremy H. Montieth
Theses/Capstones from 2010
A Cross-Cultural Look at the Emotional Response to Color: Implications for the Field of Art Therapy, Kathryn Foley
A Qualitative Heuristic Art Therapy Study of Biracial Vietnamese-European Americans and Identity Formation, Erica Doreen Orth
Art Therapy and Autism: Group and Individual Art Therapy to Enhance Social Skills in Children with ASD, Nissa Jackman
Art Therapy and Lifebooks to Facilitate Foster Children's Grief Process, Angela Anderson
Art Therapy Group for Depressed Mothers in Substance Abuse Remission, Ashley Bart
Art Therapy with Minority Special Needs Children, Charice N. Mabry
A Study Exploring the Use of hte Person Picking an Apple Assessment and the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale with Groups of Artists and Non-Artists, Jacquelynn Brooke Adams
At-Risk Adolescent Girls and Fostering Positive Self Identity: Creative Clothing Design as a Narrative Art Therapy Approach, Fei-Fei Chang
Decreasing Anxiety and Depression Through Art Therapy with Self-Identified Adult Lesbians, Sonja Carrington
Decreasing Anxiety, Improving Social Behavioral Issues and Fostering Resiliency Through CBT-Oriented Art Therapy with Homeless Children, Takako Uemura
Healing from Eating Disorders: The Journey from Narrative Writing to Art Therapy, Stephanie Schultze
Multicultural Competence in Art Therapy: A Pilot Survey, Joelle L. Crepsac
Native American Experience: The Circle as an Expression of Cultural Identity, Erin Kristine Lamon
Navigating a Path to Multicultural Awareness and Sensitivity as an Art Therapist, Kerry A. Hogin
Preferred Symbols by Gay Men Utilizing the Arrington Visual Preference Test: A Jungian Based Construct, Constantino Sacasa
Rite of Passage and Art Therapist Identity Development: Awareness and Meaning, James L. Shurter
Self-Esteem Enhancing Therapeutic Art Activities with Socioeconomicaly Disadvantaged Latency-Age Children, Patti L. Anastasi
Strength-Based Art Therapy Group for Teen Mothers, Sara Fryer
The Bicultural Identity Development (BID) Art Therapy Intervention with Hispanic Adults, Ariella Cook
The Effect and Experience of Clearing a Space with Art on Stress Reduction in Sign Language Interpreters, Ari-Asha Castalia
The Role of Thematic Art Therapy in Quality of Life Issues with Older Adults Diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Devora Weinapple
Theses/Capstones from 2009
A Qualitative Art Therapy Group Study of Individuals Folding 1,000 Origami Cranes for Loved Ones, Kristyn Tanaka
Creating a Voice: An Art Therapy Group for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, Angelena Gagliardi