Healing Our Midwives with Art Therapy: A Literature Review to Identify Gaps in Research and Practice

Author

Virginia PerryFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-18-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Dr. Kelvin Ramirez

Abstract

The current crisis in the U.S. healthcare system, exacerbated by the pandemic, has had a marked negative impact on maternal health. Community-based midwives, who serve pregnant and birthing families outside of institutional and hospital settings, can be part of a systemic approach to improving maternal health. This literature review reveals an acute lack of research on and resources for these essential care providers. Current research on workplace-related stress in healthcare providers indicates a growing need to better understand healthcare providers’ traumatic experiences and to develop therapeutic methods for prevention and treatment. This review investigates the research base for using art therapy to address vicarious trauma, PTSD, and other forms of stress that community midwives experience. A number of ways to use art therapy with community midwives are explored and proposed, with the goal of supporting sustainable midwifery in the U.S.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Perry, Virginia, "Healing Our Midwives with Art Therapy: A Literature Review to Identify Gaps in Research and Practice" (2024). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 779.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/779