Date of Award
Spring 3-20-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Major
Expressive Therapies
First Advisor
Robyn Flaum Cruz, PhD
Second Advisor
Rakhshanda Saleem, PhD
Third Advisor
David Gussak, PhD
Abstract
This study examined the relationships between U.S. based graduate-level art therapists’ (N = 174) personal and professional characteristics and their decisions to explore sexuality in sessions. A mixed-methods concurrent design generated quantitative and qualitative data through a one-time anonymous internet study centering on two clinical case vignettes. One vignette highlighted gender nonconformity, the other the sexualization of the therapist. Comparison of years of art therapy experience for two groups, those who interacted with one vignette before exiting and those who interacted with both found the group that rated both vignettes had more years of AT experience (M = 13.08, SD = 10.5) than those who quit (M = 8.06, SD = 8.2) after one, t(145) = -2.9; p = .004. There were no significant differences in sexuality training, work location, or primary role between the two groups. The qualitative data found most respondents, predominantly White women, were often clinically confident. Where the gender nonconformity vignette elicited vulnerability, the sexualization of the therapist vignette provoked transference and projection. For gender nonconformity, the themes of art therapy for supporting safety and sexuality were very common. For the sexualization of the therapist, the themes of art therapy for exploring aggression and erotic transference were common. The data showed many were often comfortable, demonstrated mastery in treatment formulations, and gained confidence with age and years of experience. The profession of art therapy may benefit from including art therapy-based sexuality training as standard protocol in training and supervision.
Recommended Citation
Blausey, Daniel, "Art Therapists’ Perspectives on Exploring Sexuality in Treatment Sessions" (2025). Expressive Therapies Dissertations. 3.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_therapies_dissertation/3
