The Impact of Art Therapy on Social Problem Solving with Adolescents At-Risk for or Labeled Emotionally and Behaviorally Disabled
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Author
Mueller, Theresa
Date
2010
Degree
Master of Arts in Art Therapy
Abstract
A significant number of today’s youth have mental health issues (U.S. Department of |
Health and Human Services [USDHSS], 1999) warranting or putting them at risk for the
label “Emotional and Behavioral Disabled” (EBD). This seven-week pilot study proposed to
integrate art interventions into a developmentally appropriate prevention and treatment plan
involving positive social problem solving skills training. The purpose of the intervention was
to target deficits in social problem solving noted in this population (Frauenknecht & Black,
2003).
Essential to this study’s premise is the importance of creativity in social problem
solving (D'Zurilla & Nezu, 2002), the developmental appropriateness of nurturing creativity
during adolescence (Dai & Shen, 2008) and the use of art therapy. Pre- and postcomparisons were made using the Social Problem Solving Inventory for Adolescents (SPSIA) (Frauenknecht & Black, 2003). Although the subject group, and all five males from both
groups showed score increases, final results were deemed statistically insignificant.
Implications are addressed.