Teachers' Stress and the Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy: A Critical Review of the Literature

Author

AnnaRose Squillante, Lesley UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-18-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MCM - MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

Nancy Jo Cardillo

Abstract

Although every job has its own set of obstacles, struggles and stressors that are unique to their profession, teachers face multidimensional stressors that can have negative impacts on them personally and professionally (Abel & Sewell, 1999). Research shows that teachers have multiple layers of stress that have the potential to lead to burnout, mental health problems, physical health problems and poor student relationships. This thesis outlines the existing research on the sources of stress for teachers, the impacts of the stress and the lack of consistent support and interventions for these teachers. While support for teachers does exist, it is greatly limited. This paper reviews existing research regarding expressive arts therapy and its positive effects on stress. Furthermore, an argument is made that expressive arts therapy, either integrated or individual modalities, can be helpful for teachers during their school day, provided individually and within a supportive group setting. The paper provides a series of practice and research recommendations.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Squillante, AnnaRose, "Teachers' Stress and the Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy: A Critical Review of the Literature" (2019). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 110.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/110