Expressing the Inexpressible Emotions of Grief and Loss Through Art and Poetry: A Twelve-Week Pilot Program for Grieving Adolescents
Graduation Date
Fall 2009
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
Arnell Etherington, PhD, MFT, ATR-BC
First Reader
Laury Rappaport, PhD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Carolee Stabno, PsyD, MFT
Abstract
This grant proposal explores how art therapy and the use of poetry can positively influence the lives of adolescents involved in an after school grief group. During the 12-week pilot program, an art therapy intern and co-facilitator will guide participants through various expressive directives employed as communication tools. Art therapy has been used as a verbal and non-verbal tool communicating difficult emotions which may be challenging to express. The adolescents will benefit from the use of poetry and art to facilitate an understanding of the grieving process, while expressing emotions and enhancing self-soothing. The concluding questionnaire will evaluate how art and poetry contributes to the decrease of isolation, despair, detachment, disorganization, panic, blame, and anger of the grief process.