Through a Viewfinder: An Art Therapy Intern's Experience Working in Hospice Care

The purpose of this arts-based heuristic study was to explore the experience of an art therapy graduate student interning at a hospice care facility using photography and journaling as a means of identity exploration. The researcher engaged in a heuristic inquiry as modeled by Moustakas's six-phase process. The rationale for this study was to gain a greater understanding of an art therapy intern’s experience in hospice care and explore how end of life care impacts one's spiritual, personal, and professional identity. The themes identified by the researcher were nature, grief process, flexibility, seeking support, humor, self-care, and wishes, which contributed to the researchers’ greater understanding of working in hospice care. Implications include reengagement in this heuristic process to explore long term impacts of end of life care. Additionally, other clinicians interested in self-exploration or the heuristic process may benefit from the photography and narrative methodology.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201