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Women’s experiences of change through art therapy

Holmqvist, Gärd Marie Louise ; Jormfeldt, Henrika LU ; Larsson, Ingrid and Lundqvist, Cristina LU (2017) In Arts and Health 9(3). p.199-212
Abstract

Background: Art therapy is based on the conception that image making in a therapeutic context may facilitate processes of change. Methods: A semi-structured interview with focus on the image was conducted with 17 women in order to explore change, after which a qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: The women experienced internal change as a sudden, unexpected turning point or as a more gradual process, although some reported no internal change whatsoever. Five themes reflecting the women’s experiences of what was important for internal change emerged: Trust in the therapist, Belief in the method, Creative impulse, Meaning of the image and The art therapy process. Conclusions: Art therapy may contribute to change in the... (More)

Background: Art therapy is based on the conception that image making in a therapeutic context may facilitate processes of change. Methods: A semi-structured interview with focus on the image was conducted with 17 women in order to explore change, after which a qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: The women experienced internal change as a sudden, unexpected turning point or as a more gradual process, although some reported no internal change whatsoever. Five themes reflecting the women’s experiences of what was important for internal change emerged: Trust in the therapist, Belief in the method, Creative impulse, Meaning of the image and The art therapy process. Conclusions: Art therapy may contribute to change in the sense of moving from an inadequate to a healthier state. Even when art therapy does not lead to internal change it may be supportive and provide short-term help in everyday life.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Art therapy, change, Expressive Therapies Continuum [ETC], turning point
in
Arts and Health
volume
9
issue
3
pages
199 - 212
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:84988568908
  • wos:000411793900001
ISSN
1753-3015
DOI
10.1080/17533015.2016.1225780
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ef9e95f0-6b69-4a35-bd9f-77cf3d28233f
date added to LUP
2016-11-03 07:02:31
date last changed
2024-03-07 15:04:44
@article{ef9e95f0-6b69-4a35-bd9f-77cf3d28233f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Art therapy is based on the conception that image making in a therapeutic context may facilitate processes of change. Methods: A semi-structured interview with focus on the image was conducted with 17 women in order to explore change, after which a qualitative content analysis was performed. Results: The women experienced internal change as a sudden, unexpected turning point or as a more gradual process, although some reported no internal change whatsoever. Five themes reflecting the women’s experiences of what was important for internal change emerged: Trust in the therapist, Belief in the method, Creative impulse, Meaning of the image and The art therapy process. Conclusions: Art therapy may contribute to change in the sense of moving from an inadequate to a healthier state. Even when art therapy does not lead to internal change it may be supportive and provide short-term help in everyday life.</p>}},
  author       = {{Holmqvist, Gärd Marie Louise and Jormfeldt, Henrika and Larsson, Ingrid and Lundqvist, Cristina}},
  issn         = {{1753-3015}},
  keywords     = {{Art therapy; change; Expressive Therapies Continuum [ETC]; turning point}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{09}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{199--212}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Arts and Health}},
  title        = {{Women’s experiences of change through art therapy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2016.1225780}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/17533015.2016.1225780}},
  volume       = {{9}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}