Using Art Therapy Groups to Promote Insight in Adult Inpatients
Graduation Date
Fall 1990
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
Abstract
This study gave evidence of art therapy's ability to evoke insights in patients. Nine volunteer subjects in an inpatient psychiatric hospital were followed for a three-and-a-half week period. Bi-weekly art therapy groups were offered to these subjects. During these sessions, subjects' artworks were processed as a group. Two to three pieces of artwork from each subject were collected and discussed in this study. Four behaviors were used as indicators of insight: motivation on task, self-esteem, coping skills, and expression of feelings. Because this is an observational study, specific conclusions cannot be made.
COinS