Narrative Art Therapy with Career Counseling to Promote Insight and Decsion-making After Experienceing Job Loss
Graduation Date
Spring 2013
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
John Lemmon, PhD
First Reader
Amy Backos, PhD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Sarah Kremer, ATR-BC
Abstract
This research project was designed to study the effects of narrative art therapy combined with career counseling as it relates to decision-making, degrees of stress, anxiety, depression and hopelessness, as well as the impact on personal insight and discovery about one's career. There has been little research connecting art therapy and career counseling before this paper was written.
Research was conducted in a group setting over a course of three sessions. The participants consisted of five females and one male, ranging in age from 30-57. Although the findings were not significant, results included a decrease in stress, anxiety and depression, and increased levels of hopefulness and personal growth initiative. This research provides a good foundation for further research in the area of art therapy and career counseling.