Increasing Communication with Couples Using Art Therapy
Graduation Date
Spring 2015
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
Jennifer Harrison, PsyD, DAAETS, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Sarah Mark, MFT
Abstract
The hypothesis for this study was that using art therapy techniques would improve communication within couples. Five couples participated in the study and they completed four one hour sessions. Each session introduced a new art directive for each participant to complete and share with their partner. At the beginning of the first session and the end of the last session the couples were given a Primary Communication Inventory (PCI) and a Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Results indicated a statistically significant increase in communication within couples. The findings of this study may be helpful to art therapists working with couples.