Masters Theses
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A Heuristic Exploration of Creating Response Art to Reduce Vicarious Grief
(2023)The following is a heuristic study that explored vicarious grief and response art through the lens of an art therapy intern. Vicarious grief involves feeling grief symptoms such as: sadness, guilt, anger, helplessness, ... -
Art Therapists at the Border: Identifying Professional Career Challenges and Service Access
(2023)This study examined the influences and possible challenges in communities that affect art therapist’s employment possibilities and career decisions. An interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach along with an ... -
Bringing Light to Dark Spaces: Positivity and the Art Making Process for Women with Heart Failure
(2022)This arts-based, phenomenological study explored the lived experiencing of positive art making activities and the phenomenological processing of created art objects to promote psychological well-being for five women ... -
Before and After Motherhood: An Arts-based Phenomenological Study
(2022)Experiences of motherhood are individual, yet also informed by the cultural context of the mother. Current feminist research seeks to understand and improve the conditions that surround women. This qualitative study uses ... -
The Impact of Sensory-Related Art Therapy Interventions on the Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
(2022)This is a quantitative research study that explores the impact of art therapy on the identified problem behavior(s) of children, ages four to six, who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The relationship between ... -
Partner Suicide: Processing Trauma, Grief, and Loss Using Response Art
(2022)Suicide loss survivors are 64% more likely to attempt suicide, and 80% more likely to quit their jobs or drop out of school compared to those who have suffered sudden loss to a death by a natural cause. Additionally, ... -
An Arts-Based Phenomenological Exploration of Active Duty Military Spouse Identities Through Abstract Self-Portrait Collages
(2022)This arts-based phenomenological study explored the personal identities of four active duty (AD) military spouses based on their perspectives and lived experiences in civilian and military communities. Co-researchers ... -
Experiences of Using Art with Middle School Educators to Examine Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic
(2022)The following qualitative study analyzed the experiences of middle school educators’ engagement in group art directives. Data was collected over a 4-week period, and a group semi-open interview was utilized to elicit ... -
Possible Therapeutic Effects of Using Art Materials on Potential Anxiety/Depression in Elementary Students in the Fifth to Sixth Grade Transition
(2022)This study surveyed an adolescent population around the time of elementary to middle school transition. The elementary to middle school transition period has the potential to influence adolescents for the rest of their ... -
Self-reflective Artmaking and Self-Care: A Heuristic Study
(2022)Using the El Duende One Canvas Process Painting (EDOCPP), the participant-researcher engaged in an ongoing creative process for twelve weeks to implement self-care practices during a graduate art therapy internship. Data ... -
Using Photography to Explore Themes with Readjusting Veterans
(2022)After completing their service, the United States military population become veterans, and most of them use a variety of coping skills, some being abnormal, to transition into civilians. The goal of the study discussed ... -
A Comprehensive Overview of How Art Therapy has Facilitated Healing in the Lives of Cancer Patients
(2007)The purpose of this research proposal is to examine how art therapy is being used to improve the lives of people with cancer. There have been many articles by art therapists and other professionals discussing this subject ... -
Dreamwork: A Cross-Cultural Perspective for Art Therapists
(2011)Dream imagery is ideally suited for use in art therapy and can provide a glimpse into the emotional inner world of clients.Cultures throughout the world use dreams for healing and insight and often incorporate the art ... -
A Heuristic Inquiry: Researching the Possibility that Resolution of Sibling Rivalry can be Found Through Examining Pictures, Expressions and Reflections of the Older Sister
(2008)This heuristic study looks at the connection between sibling rivalry and the trauma that occurs when a child feels the threat of possible attachment disruption from the parents. The study will examine the researcher’s ... -
Military Childhood Experiences and the Concept of Home in Adulthood: A Heuristic Arts-Based Study
(2022)This heuristic study investigated the implications of growing up as a military kid (MK) on the researcher’s sense of home and belonging in adulthood. The study was guided by the question, “How can the researcher use art ... -
Paradox as an Area of Inquiry in Art Therapy: A Heuristic Study
(2003)This heuristic, art-based study explores the creative expression of paradox as an area of inquiry in art therapy. The concepts of paradox and integration of opposites are discussed through a review of the literature in ... -
Images Created by Women Adjusting to Aging
(2010)This ethnographic research study was a pilot project to discover the types of images aging women might create to help them cope with their concerns regarding getting older. The six participants in this study were women ... -
Tourette Syndrome and Art Therapy: A Heuristic Study on Decreasing Motor and Vocal Tics through the Art-Making Process
(2011)Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary motor and vocal tics. There is currently no known cure for Tourette Syndrome. Though there are medications available to reduce tics caused by ... -
Can a Mother/Daughter Art Therapy Group Increase Self-Worth in Girls Who Have Been Sexually Abused and in Their Female Caregivers?
(2013)Caring for children who have been sexually abused often stirs up issues of untreated trauma related to the caregiver’s background. Additionally, it can impact their parenting style, both before and after the outcry of ... -
Seeking the Objective Truth of Color Application for Healing and Art Therapy Past, Present and Future
(2008)Color is a vital healing tool that does not appear to be currently utilized as a directive for healing in the practice of mainstream art therapy in the United States. Rudolf Steiner, a philosopher, scientist, educator ...