Experiences of Art Therapy in Early Adulthood
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of Art Therapy in Early Adulthood: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.
IRAS ID
246071
Contact name
Pieter Nel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
Young adults present to services with needs and difficulties specific to their age group. However, the report Future In Mind (NHS England, 2013) suggests that sometimes adult mental health services cannot meet the needs of young adults. Among the variety of therapeutic interventions offered to young adults, art therapy is a “form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of expression and communication” (British Association of Art Therapists, 2017). Although there are examples of research in art therapy with adolescents (Icoz & Mutluer, 2012, Parisian, 2015, Perryman et al., 2015, Kim et al., 2014), art therapy for young adults has not been investigated yet.
This research will gain first-hand accounts from young adult service users, exploring their experiences, in order to inform art therapists, mental health professionals and service providers.
Findings could enhance training of art therapists, the delivery and evaluation of interventions and therefore future patient care. Findings could also enhance public’s understanding of art therapy interventions and facilitate engagement with services.
Participants will need to consent to have two art therapy sessions video recorded. The researcher will select brief segments from the two sessions recorded and review these with participants during 90-minute semi-structured interviews. These interviews, one per participant, will be conducted with 6-8 young adults having art therapy on the NHS for their mental health difficulties. Interviews will take place on Central North West London NHS Trust premises; permissions will be sought from the relevant R & D department.
Semi- structured interviews may include questions on the following topics:
- Therapeutic relationship
- Engagement in the art making
- Reflecting on art work
- Significant moments in art therapy.
Interviews will be transcribed between the Student and a transcription service.
They will then be analysed using a qualitative research method, IPA (Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis).REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0284
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion