Abstract
This study addressed the concept of identity among Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and focused on
the Missionary Kid (MK) subgroup of TCKs. For the purpose of this paper, the TCK and MK
populations were described as Third Culture Missionary Kids (TCMKs). This narrative,
phenomenological study examined how art therapy could be used to develop a sense of identity
for TCMKs through interviews and the Collage Life Story Elicitation Technique (CLET), by
examining the underlying themes of client collage as it related to identity formation. Participants
were interviewed via Zoom, discussing the images chosen and how they related to the participant
and their identity. Through these interviews and collages, the researchers found participants
included culture, relationships, and religious faith as main themes in their identity formation.
Understanding these themes in relation to the TCMK could aid therapists in the therapeutic
relationships. This study also revealed the power of metaphor through collage in provoking rich
narratives, which could be a valuable tool in the field of Art Therapy.
