Proposed study on the art therapy as a means of communication between foster parents and children

At Horizon Academics, under the guidance of Dr. Richard Carolan, I studied the mechanisms of change of art therapy. Alongside, I was volunteering at ASA Now, gaining more experience with the needs of foster children through talking to staff and observation. I began to understand that art therapy was a beneficial intervention for vulnerable populations and conducted a literature reviews on the needs of foster children, narrowing down to trust, specifically between a foster parent and child. Similarly, I conducted a literature review on the mechanisms of change of art therapy and connected them to establishing trust, communication, empathy, and ultimately to create a sense of understanding. After consulting with a group of doctorate students, a 10-week intervention was designed with goals and art directives in order to work with a foster family to help create a positive environments, although temporary, for foster children to prosper.

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i4.2260

Dr. Richard Carolan, Ed.D., ATR-BC is a licensed psychologist, Board Certified Registered Art Therapist, Tenured Professor, and Director of the PhD in Art Therapy Program at NDNU. Dr. Carolan has been on the faculty at NDNU for over 20 years. He served as Department Chair and guided the development of the department’s research focus.

The Relationship Between Cultural Identity and Art Therapy Efficacy

At Lumiere Education, under the mentorship of Saul Ivan Quintero, a psychology doctorate student at UCLA, I conducted a hypothesis driven research project focused on variable of culture in art therapy. This paper discusses the importance of considering diversity and variability between individuals of cultural backgrounds within art therapy in order to understand the appropriateness of art therapy as an intervention generally along with adapting art directives and processes to better suit and provide for the needs of those of different cultural backgrounds. The paper consists of a literature review discussing the lack of equivalence between different cultures, the heavy influence of culture in relation to personal experience and shaping views, and the need to address the variable of culture in specifically art therapy. The second part of the paper includes a survey in which data was collected on the perceptions and purpose of art, cultural values and relations, and feelings throughout a drawing activity with an abstract prompt. The results of the survey showed a need for further research and importance of addressing cultural variability due to different views on art.

Ongoing Research

Currently, I am expanding my research horizons with a research fellowship at Lumiere Education. Over the course of the next six months, I will delve deeper into existing research in order to conduct a more in depth research project.