Date of Award

Spring 5-2015

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

Sarah Deaver

Committee Member

Maureen Ann Kelleher

Abstract

When entering the mental health professions, a student may find value in a process of self-exploration (Deaver, 2012; Deaver & McAuliffe, 2009; Harter, 2007; Hubbs & Brand, 2005; La Torre, 2005; Wadeson, 2003). In order to gain a greater awareness of one’s personal as well as professional identity development, the experience of cultural immersion may aid as the catalyst for unearthing a clearer understanding of one’s internal worldview. By employing the approach of authoethnography (Muncey, 2010) and following the heuristic study method developed by Moustakas (1990), I journeyed into an excavation of my own personal and professional identity development in response to immersion with survivors of sex trafficking in the countries of Nepal and America. Data was collected by means of visual journaling, video diary recordings, and artwork creation. The data was evaluated by means of qualitative content analyses that resulted in an overarching pattern with encompassed themes. The overarching pattern and encompassed themes that were unearthed were then discussed in terms of personal and professional identity development as well as implications for art therapy education, practice, and potential areas of note regarding work with survivors of sex trafficking.

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