Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MA - Master of Arts
Department
Expressive Therapies
Advisor
Sarah Hamil
Abstract
The treatment for cancer can be physically, mentally, emotionally and socially challenging. These treatments have side effects like physical body pain, hair loss, changes in weight, energy, nausea and more. These physical changes impact the social, mental and emotional well-being of the patient and makes this journey of the life-threating prognosis of cancer very tough to confront. Expressive arts therapy provides a safe space for the patients to address their mental health concerns as a result of this treatment. The Capstone Thesis Project explored expressive arts therapy interventions with 95 patients through single or multiple sessions while going through their chemotherapy treatment. The focus of these sessions was the therapeutic relationship formed between the therapist and the patient in the dynamic environment of the hospital. Data was collected through notations and observations. This relational importance was proved to translate into the patient’s life in form of trust, safety, expression, increased insight and awareness, encouragement, support, and reduced distress thereby adding to the quality of life through the medium of arts like movement, music, art, drama, storytelling, poetry and writing.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Parekh, Akshata, "Exploring the Therapeutic Relationship as a Central Focus Through Expressive Arts Therapy in Oncology" (2021). Expressive Therapies Capstone Theses. 396.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_theses/396
Included in
Art Therapy Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Counseling Psychology Commons, Dance Movement Therapy Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons, Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Oncology Commons, Patient Safety Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Commons
Rights
The author owns the copyright to this work.
