Login | Register

Autism and Mental Health Support: A Closed Art Therapy Group Within a Community Art Studio

Title:

Autism and Mental Health Support: A Closed Art Therapy Group Within a Community Art Studio

Suchostawski, Katrina Julianna (2018) Autism and Mental Health Support: A Closed Art Therapy Group Within a Community Art Studio. [Graduate Projects (Non-thesis)] (Unpublished)

[thumbnail of Suchostawski_MA_F2018.pdf]
Preview
Text (application/pdf)
Suchostawski_MA_F2018.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Spectrum Terms of Access.
570kB

Abstract

Using an intervention research framework, this project has answered the research question: What would a closed art therapy group for adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder based in a community art studio look like? After a thorough review of the pertinent literature, a tentative project was designed that focuses on the mental health and well being of adolescents and young adults with autism. This research has demonstrated that there is a marked need for this type of potential space to benefit this population and their families. There is also a marked need for a change in perception of what it means to be human. Based on the researchers experience and a thorough review of literature, the overarching goal of this project was to create an outline of what type of space would be most beneficial. The potential for growth for the individual, their support system and for the greater community can be limitless when fostered as part of a community art studio. There is a richness that exists in a community run art studio that is the perfect complement to the needs of the autism spectrum disorder population. By completing this project, and adding to the current research, it is a way to give back to children with ASD and the special needs community by creating an awareness of their needs, potentially decreasing the stigma of those who are different, and hopefully opening a dialogue between the autism spectrum disorder community and the larger population.

Divisions:Concordia University > Faculty of Fine Arts > Creative Arts Therapies
Item Type:Graduate Projects (Non-thesis)
Authors:Suchostawski, Katrina Julianna
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A.
Program:Creative Arts Therapies (Art Therapy Option)
Date:August 2018
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):10.11573/spectrum.library.concordia.ca.00984331
Keywords:art therapy, group art therapy, autism, autism spectrum disorder, language, communication, art as language, emotions, relationships, social skills, self-regulation, open format art studio, community art studio, art hive, public homeplace, active citizenship, disability, imagination, thinking, sensory, identity, education, intervention research, project design, program, treatment goals, being autistic, strategies for change, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
ID Code:984331
Deposited By: Katrina Julianna Suchostawski
Deposited On:14 Sep 2018 19:34
Last Modified:19 Sep 2018 20:26

References:

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from http://dsm.psychiatryonline.org/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?id=3SQrtpnHb9MC

Autism Canada (2017, December 11). Diagnostic criteria – DSM-5. Retrieved from https://autismcanada.org/about-autism/diagnosis/diagnostic-criteria-dsm-5/

Autism Canada (2017, October 31). Characteristics. Retrieved from https://autismcanada.org/about-autism/characteristics/

Black, D. W., & Grant, J. E. (2014). DSM-5 guidebook: The essential companion to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Cardinal, R. (2009). Foreword. In A. J. Wexler (Ed.), Art and disability: The social and political struggles facing education (pp. xi-xvi). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Caven, J. (2012). Having a learning disability: The question of what to say and how to say it. In S. Bull, & K. O’Farrell (Eds.), Art therapy and learning disabilities: Don’t guess my happiness (pp. 39-52). New York, NY: Routledge.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016, July 11). Autism spectrum disorder. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html

Christensen, D. L., Baio, J., Braun, K. V., Bilder, D., Charles, J., Constantino, J. N., … Yeargin-Allsopp, M. (2016). Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years — autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 sites, United States, 2012. Surveillance Summaries, 65(3), 1–23. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6503a1

Congdon, K. G., Blandy, D., & Bolin, P. E. (2001). Histories of community-based art education. Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.

Cullingham, J. (2015, June 30). Judith Snow: Advocate for inclusion was ‘a visionary.’ The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/judith-snow-advocate-for-inclusion-was-a-visionary/article25213213/

Dempsey, I., & Nankervis, K. (Eds.). (2006). Community disability services: An evidence-based approach to practice. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press.

Dolphin, M. (2014). Frozen in headlights: Working with loss in art therapy with a man with asperger’s syndrome. In M. Dolphin, A. Byers, A. Goldsmith, & R. E. Jones (Eds.), Psychodynamic art therapy practice with people on the autistic spectrum (pp. 19-33). New York, NY: Routledge.

Dolphin, M., Byers, A., Goldsmith, A., & Jones, R. E. (Eds.). (2014). Psychodynamic art therapy practice with people on the autistic spectrum. New York, NY: Routledge.

Elefant, C. (2010). Unmasking hidden resources: Communication in children with severe developmental disabilities in music therapy. In V. Karkou (Ed.), Arts therapies in schools: Research and practice (pp. 243-258). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Emery, M. J. (2004). Art therapy as an intervention for autism. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 21(3), 143-147.

Epp, K. M. (2008). Outcome-based evaluation of a social skills program using art therapy and group therapy for children on the autism spectrum. Children & Schools, 30(1), 27-36.

Eubanks, P. (1999). Art as a visual language that supports verbal development. In A. L. Nyman, & A. M. Jenkins (Eds.), Issues and approaches to art for students with special needs (pp. 109-117). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.

Evans, K., & Dubowski, E. (2001). Art therapy with children on the autistic spectrum: Beyond words. Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Fawcett, S. B., Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Balcazar, F. E., White, G. W., Paine, A. L., Blanchard, K. A. & Embree, M. G. (1994). Conducting intervention research – the design and development process. In J. Rothman, & E.J. Thomas (Eds.), Intervention research: Design and development for human services (pp. 25-54). Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.

Fédération Québécoise de l’Autisme (2017, October). L'autisme en chiffres. Retrieved from
http://www.autisme.qc.ca/tsa/lautisme-en-chiffres.html

Fox, L. (1998). Lost in space: The relevance of art therapy with clients who have autism or autistic features. In M. Rees (Ed.), Drawing on difference, (pp. 73-90). New York, NY: Routledge.

Fraser, M., & Galinsky, M. (2010). Steps in intervention research: Designing and developing social programs. Research on Social Work Practice, 20(5), 459-466.
doi:10.1177/1049731509358424

Fung, L. K., & Hardan, A. Y. (2014). Autism in DSM-5 under the microscope: Implications to patients, families, clinicians, and researchers. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 11(Supplement C), 93–97. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2014.08.010

Gazeas, M. (2012). Current findings on art therapy and individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal, 25(1), 15-22.
doi:10.1080/08322473.2012.11415558

Gillberg, C., & Wing, L. (1999). Autism: Not an extremely rare disorder. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 99(6), 399–406. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1999.tb00984.x

Grandin, T. (2010). Foreword. In B. Levett Gerber, & J. Kellman (Eds.), Understanding students with autism through art (p. 7). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.

Grandin, T., & Panek, R. (2013). The autistic brain: Thinking across the spectrum. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Grether, J. K. (2006). Epidemiology of autism: Current controversies and research directions. Clinical Neuroscience Research, 6, 119-126. doi:10.1016/j.cnr.2006.06.009

Hinz, L. D. (2009). Expressive therapies continuum: A framework for using art in therapy. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Group.

Hu, V. W. (2014). Phenotype definition: A cornerstone of autism research, diagnosis and therapy. In V. W. Hu (Ed.), Frontiers in autism research: New horizons for diagnosis and treatment (pp. 3–22). doi:10.1142/9789814602167_0001

Karkou, V. (2010a). Introduction. In V. Karkou (Ed.), Arts therapies in schools: Research and practice (pp. 9-24). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Karkou, V. (2010b). Summary and conclusions. In V. Karkou (Ed.), Arts therapies in schools: Research and practice (pp. 271-279). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Kelly, B. (2005). ‘Chocolate … makes you autism’: Impairment, disability and childhood identities. Disability & Society, 20(3), 261–275. doi:10.1080/09687590500060687

Levett Gerber, B. (2010). An overview of special education and autism: A personal perspective. In B. Levett Gerber, & J. Kellman (Eds.), Understanding students with autism through art (pp. 10-31). Reston, VA: National Art Education Association.

Liebmann, M. (1986). Art therapy for groups: A handbook of themes, games and exercises. Brookline, MA: Brookline Books.

Macoretta, N. (2017). Learning in the third age: A look into the community art studio (Master’s thesis). Retrieved from Concordia University Library Spectrum Research Repository. (ID code No. 982351)

Malchiodi, C. (1998). The art therapy sourcebook. Los Angeles, CA: Lowell House.

Martin, N. (2009a). Art therapy and autism: Overview and recommendations. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 26(4), 187-190.

Martin, N. (2009b). Art as an early intervention tool for children with autism. London, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Mayes, S. (2014). Diagnosing autism with checklist for autism spectrum disorder (CASD). In V. B. Patel, V. R. Preedy, & C. R. Martin (Eds.), Comprehensive guide to autism (pp. 285–298). New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-4788-7_11

Metcalf, B., Ashmun, M. K., & O’Byrne, N. (2018). The collaboration between educational therapy and mental health professionals: Case study analyses. In M. Ficksman, & J. U. Adelizzi (Eds.), The clinical practice of educational therapy: Learning and functioning with diversity (2nd ed., pp. 294-305). New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Morell, M. (2011). Signs and symbols: Art and language in art therapy. Journal of Clinical Art Therapy, 1(1), 25-32. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/jcat/vol1/iss1/8

Noiseux, M. (2015). Portfolio thématique troubles du spectre de l’autisme: Surveillance de l’état de santé de la population. Longueuil, Quebec: Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre. Retrieved from Santé et services sociaux Montérégie website: http://extranet.santemonteregie.qc.ca/sante-publique/surveillance-etat-sante/portrait-typethematique.fr.html

O’Neil, S. (2008). The meaning of autism: Beyond disorder. Disability & Society, 23(7), 787–799. doi:10.1080/09687590802469289

Ottarsdottir, U. (2010). Art therapy in education for children with specific learning difficulties who have experienced stress and/or trauma. In V. Karkou (Ed.), Arts therapies in schools: Research and practice (pp. 145-160). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Özerk, K. (2016). The issue of prevalence of autism/ASD. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 9(2), 263-305. Retrieved from https://www.iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE

Pelly, L., Vardy, C., Fernandez, B., Newhook, L. A., & Chafe, R. (2015). Incidence and cohort prevalence for autism spectrum disorders in the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador. CMAJ Open, 3(3), E276-E280. doi:10.9778/cmajo.20140056

Power, A., Lord, J. E., & deFranco, A. S. (2013). Active citizenship and disability: Implementing the personalization of support. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Randolph, J. J. (2009). A Guide to Writing a Dissertation Literature Review. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 14(3), 1-13.

Reaven, J., & Willar, K. (2017). Group cognitive behavior therapy for children and adolescents with anxiety and autism spectrum disorders. In C. M. Kerns, P. Renno, E. A. Storch, P. C. Kendall, & J. J. Wood (Eds.), Anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: Evidence-based assessment and treatment (pp. 143–169). Cambridge, MA: Elsevier. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-805122-1.00008-9

Roberts, R. (Ed.). (2002). Self-esteem and early learning (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Paul Chapman Publishing.

Seale, J., & Nind, M. (Eds.). (2010). Understanding and promoting access for people with learning difficulties. New York, NY: Routledge.

Specht, J. (Ed.). (2017). Personality development across the lifespan. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier.

Stone, C. A. (1998). The metaphor of scaffolding: Its utility for the field of learning disabilities. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 31(4), 344-364. doi:10.1177/002221949803100404

Takeda, F. (2010). The capacity for imagination: Implication for working with children with autism in art therapy. In V. Karkou (Ed.), Arts therapies in schools: Research and practice (pp. 217-230). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Timm-Bottos, J. (2001). The heart of the lion: Joining community through art making. In M. Faralley-Hansen (Ed.), Spirituality and art therapy (pp. 204-226). London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Timm-Bottos, J. (2005). The necessity of public homeplace in urban revitalization (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Timm-Bottos, J. (2006). Constructing creative community: Reviving health and justice through community arts. Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal, 19(2). 12–26. doi:10.1080/08322473.2006.11432285

Timm-Bottos, J. (2011). The five and dime: Developing a community’s access to art-based research. In H. Burt (Ed.), Art therapy and postmodernism: Creative healing through a prism (pp. 97-117). London, UK: Jessica Kingsley.

Timm-Bottos, J. (2015). Art therapy in Canada: A place-based métissage. In D. Gussak, & M. Rosal (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of art therapy (pp. 691-700). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell Pub.

Timm-Bottos, J. (2016). Beyond counseling and psychotherapy, there is a field. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 33(3), 160–162. doi:10.1080/ 07421656.2016.1199248

Timm-Bottos, J. (2017). Public practice art therapy: Enabling spaces across North America (La pratique publique de l'art-thérapie: Des espaces habilitants partout en Amérique du Nord). Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal, 30(2), 94-99. doi:10.1080/08322473.2017.1385215

Timm-Bottos, J., & Chainey, R. (2015). Art hives how-to-guide. (n.p.): (n.p.).

Timm-Bottos, J., & Reilly, R.C. (2014). Learning in third spaces: Community art studio as storefront university classroom. American Journal of Community Psychology, 55(1-2), 102-114. doi:10.1007/s10464-014-9688-5

Timm-Bottos, J., & Reilly, R. C. (2015). Neighborhood art hives: Engaging communities in teaching and learning. In O. Delano-Oriaran, M. Parks, & S. Fondrie (Eds.), Service-learning and civic engagement: A sourcebook (pp. 179–184). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Tytherleigh, L., & Karkou, V. (2010). Dramatherapy, autism and relationship-building: A case study. In V. Karkou (Ed.), Arts therapies in schools: Research and practice (pp. 197-216). Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Van Schalkwyk, G. I., & Volkmar, F. R. (2017). Autism spectrum disorders: Challenges and opportunities for transition to adulthood. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 26(2), 329–339. doi:10.1016/J.CHC.2016.12.013

Wall, K. (2007). Education and care for adolescents and adults with autism: A guide for professional and carers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Watkins, M., & Shulman, H. (2008). Toward psychologies of liberation: Critical theory and practice in psychology and the human sciences. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

Whitman, T. L., & DeWitt, N. (2011). Key learning skills for children with autism spectrum disorders: A blueprint for life. London, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Wright, J. (2017, March 2). Autism rates in the United States explained. Retrieved from https://spectrumnews.org/news/autism-rates-united-states-explained/

Ziff, K. (2016). Artbreak: A creative guide to joyful and productive classrooms. Athens, OH: Swallow Press.
All items in Spectrum are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved. The use of items is governed by Spectrum's terms of access.

Repository Staff Only: item control page

Downloads per month over past year

Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
- Research related to the current document (at the CORE website)
Back to top Back to top