Date of Award

Spring 5-17-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies

Major

Expressive Therapies

First Advisor

Raquel Stephenson

Abstract

This study examines the use of art therapy to address negative self-talk and promote emotional awareness, self-compassion, and identity development in an adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Adolescents with ASD are particularly susceptible to negative internal dialogue due to challenges with emotional regulation, communication, and social integration. Given the limitations of traditional talk therapies, art therapy offers a nonverbal, sensory-accessible modality for emotional expression and cognitive restructuring. Within an in-home family stabilization model, a 17-year-old participant engaged in three structured art therapy directives with parental involvement. Data were collected through session observations, automatic writing, and artistic reflection. Findings indicated that art therapy supported the externalization and reframing of internal narratives, enhanced emotional literacy, and fostered positive self-concept. Key themes included cultivating self-compassion, exploring identity through visual metaphor, and strengthening relational engagement. The results highlight the importance of sensory-sensitive materials, flexible yet structured interventions, and relational attunement. Implications for practice include integrating art therapy into educational and community settings and adopting neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approaches. This research adds to the growing evidence supporting art therapy as a developmentally appropriate, neurologically informed intervention for building resilience and transforming maladaptive self-talk in adolescents with ASD.

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.

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