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

Geoffrey Thompson

Committee Member

Mary Roberts

Committee Member

Matthew Bernier

Abstract

This paper illustrates the need and a proposal for an Open Art Therapy Studio for Refugees, particularly in the Hampton Roads area of Norfolk, VA. Refugees experience extreme distress and anxiety, and many experience trauma, language barriers, and cultural difficulties. Art therapy as an outreach program has been a growing approach to addressing the psychological needs of refugees across the world for several years. The benefits and limitations of such programs have been explored in this literature review, which provides the backbone for a proposed open-studio, group art therapy program in the Hampton Roads area of Norfolk, Virginia. This study aimed to focus on the lived experiences of refugees as they are presently experiencing them and potentially facilitate a sense of safety, community, and resilience among the refugee population and provide insight to each individual’s story using an arts-based, qualitative approach. The study proposal underwent several IRB amendments regarding location and organizational partnerships between August 2017 and February 2018, leading to a shortened window of time in which the study could be conducted. Ultimately the study did not receive any participants due to lack of time, transportation resources, and my own lack of familiarity with the process of human subjects research. The limitations and implications for future implementation of this proposal are discussed in the conclusion.

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