Decreasing Anxiety, Improving Social Behavioral Issues and Fostering Resiliency Through CBT-Oriented Art Therapy with Homeless Children
Graduation Date
Fall 2010
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
Lisa Bjerknes, MD, MBA
First Reader
Laury Rappaport, PhD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC
Abstract
The purpose of this grant proposal is to request funding to support a CBT-oriented art therapy group for homeless children who reside at family shelters. This intervention is designed to decrease symptoms of anxiety, to improve social behavioral issues, and to foster resiliency. The psychological impacts of homelessness on children can have both short and long-term effects, which could require treatment. Resiliency is an important component for homeless children’s successful development. This research grant proposes 8 sessions of a CBT- oriented art therapy group with homeless children in homeless family shelters, which is hypothesized to decrease symptoms of anxiety, improve social behavioral problems, and increase resiliency.