Date of Award

Spring 5-2018

Document Type

Master's Project

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy and Counseling

Committee Director

Mary R. Roberts

Committee Member

Edward S. Powers

Committee Member

Donna Betts

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to elucidate the use of art therapy with adolescents experiencing adoption, culminating in the creation of an art-based workbook. Through the existing literature, the author explored research questions related to adjustment and attachment of adolescents in their adoptive family, necessary components of a workbook intended for an adolescent, important areas for adolescents to explore when transitioning to an adoptive home, who will be able to use the workbook, and how to make the workbook most accessible for the intended population. The method for the project included identifying common challenges of adolescent adoptees, indicating the target population, and creating a structure for the workbook. The art-based workbook (Appendix A) created through this project provides professional art therapists with a tool to utilize in treatment with adolescent adoptees, who may be transitioning out of foster care. Art tasks and writing prompts in the workbook are organized by theme and challenge. A supplemental guide (Appendix B) was created to provide the art therapist with considerations for each section of the workbook. Future work may include human-subject research to explore the effectiveness of the workbook, as well as the creation of an art-based workbook for adoptive parents.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Download

Included in

Art Therapy Commons

Share

COinS