Date of Award

5-18-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

MA - Master of Arts

Department

Expressive Therapies

Advisor

E. Kellogg

Abstract

Expressive art therapists work with a variety of diagnoses, including trauma-related disorders. Individuals who have experienced two or more traumatic experiences throughout their life can be defined as cumulative trauma, which causes increased risks for psychological and physical health issues. The creative journal is a modality within the expressive therapies that can be tailored to a variety of clients. The intervention utilizes imagery to facilitate the identification of feelings and inner communication with ourselves. Creative journaling has been used with a variety of treatment populations, including adolescents, students, and adults. To explore the effectiveness of this intervention with this treatment issue, I implemented a creative journal intervention at a community mental health center with an individual client I met weekly. After completion of the intervention, it was discovered that creative journaling was an effective intervention for this client to improve her self-concept, identify positive and negative emotions, and build an identity as an artist. Limitations of this investigation include the brief time allotment to complete the intervention as well as the consideration of client resistance to the arts. Continued research on this treatment intervention with trauma-related populations would be beneficial to learn more about its effectiveness.

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