Date of Award

Spring 5-24-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Raquel Stephenson

Abstract

To examine the question, “How can community art making in an open studio embolden women through creative adaptability, ingenuity, and experimentation?” a mosaic project was conducted over four sessions with women attending an art studio at a day shelter. Current literature illustrates the scope of success open studio has had in promoting community connectivity through the communion of individuality. The expressive therapies continuum, open studio approach, trauma-informed care, and the therapeutic alliance are the pillars that informed this exploration. This community engagement project melded together structural components of mosaic-making with the tenets of open studio, where guiding and sharing are reciprocated between facilitator and participants. Participants who attended the sessions had a range of experience with art-making and mosaics, found new ways to use art materials, sought feedback and guidance when experimenting with materials, and developed confidence in trusting their creative intuition. Results illuminated patience, risk-taking, and reciprocated sharing and learning in the containment of the group dynamic.

Creative Commons License

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

Download

Share

COinS