Date of Award
Spring 4-27-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Expressive Therapies
Major
Expressive Therapies
First Advisor
Dr. Raquel Stevenson
Abstract
This arts-based research explores how Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (FOAT®) supports college students in coping with stress, anxiety, and depression. Due to academic pressures, social transitions, and developmental milestones, college students are especially vulnerable to mental health challenges (Schaufeli et al., 2002). This arts-based approach to the research explores the impact of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (FOAT®) on college students experiencing stress, anxiety, and depression. Specifically, the study looked to determine if FOAT® could lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in college students who were experiencing these challenges. The research approach included the case study of one college student, Jane (a pseudonym). Jane was experiencing stress, anxiety, and some depression. The clinician, a level 2 Focusing Oriented Expressive Arts Therapist intern, conducted the FOAT® sessions with Jane. The results of this study suggested that FOAT® impacted Jane positively in a few areas: emotional regulation and processing, observable physical manifestations of lowered anxiety, and increased self-awareness and empowerment. The main findings in this study were that FOAT® can reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression in college students.
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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Lane, Mikki H., "The Impact of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (FOAT®) on College Students Experiencing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression" (2025). Expressive Therapies Theses. 32.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_therapies_theses/32
