Date of Award
Spring 5-2-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Major
Expressive Therapies
First Advisor
Raquel Chapin Stephenson
Abstract
This qualitative case study explored how working with clay in art therapy can help support a blind man’s identity exploration. This paper addresses the problem of many traditional therapeutic approaches within the art therapy realm: They rely too heavily on visual engagement, which can limit the accessibility and opportunities for self-exploration and identity development for those who are blind. The study was grounded in current research and foundational theories based on the humanistic art therapy approach. Clay is considered an accessible medium that engages multiple senses and allows for emotional exploration and meaning making, specifically through tactile and sensory-based engagement that does not depend on sight. The study also considered the intersecting identities of how being Chinese, blind, and adopted can shape an individual’s sense of self, and how these intersectionalities created a unique challenge in forming one’s identity and sense of belonging.
Data was collected over six sessions through clinical observation, reflective journaling, and analyzing the client’s artwork throughout the therapeutic process. The findings emphasized themes of sensory grounding, collaboration, trust, and the use of clay as a tactile medium for exploring personal and cultural identity. This study suggests that tactile art making can offer an alternative therapeutic approach that helps support identity exploration and development for clients who are blind or visually impaired or are doing a deeper exploration of intersecting identities. There is room for future research to be done, such as examining the inclusion of different therapeutic practices, inclusivity, and cultural flexibility and the integration of other sensory-based approaches within art therapy to better support diverse and intersectional identities.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Leicht, Virginia Jade, "Exploring Identity Through Clay: A Humanistic Art Therapy Case Study with a Blind Chinese Adoptee" (2026). Expressive Therapies Theses. 108.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_therapies_theses/108
Included in
Art Therapy Commons, Asian American Studies Commons, Ceramic Arts Commons, Chinese Studies Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Sculpture Commons, Sociology of Culture Commons
