Feminist-informed approaches to art therapy in cancer care

The purpose of this capstone thesis was to develop a method that incorporated the use of verbal processing, art making, and patient narrative exploration through feminist theory and art therapy among patients living with life-threatening diseases. Adults with cancer tend to have a variety of psychosocial and physical challenges that come with cancer and cancer treatments. Many individuals living with cancer may also experience intense emotions, feelings of grief and loss, fears of reoccurrence or death, or changes in perceptions in the way they view the world or how others might view them. The literature demonstrated that art therapy sessions with adults living with cancer tend to be beneficial in the exploration of meaning-making, decision making, emotion regulation, reduction of anxiety and depression, and to strengthen sense of self and control. Literature that explored art therapy in oncology through a feminist approach was limited to date, but demonstrated the importance of empowerment and human connection. Through my work as an art therapy intern at an inner-city hospital, I found that feminist-informed art therapy approaches allowed patients to explore their narrative, promoted empowerment, and encourage attunement in a way that was different to "traditional" art therapy. I uncovered four main principles through my research, my studies, and working directly with patients; variability and flexibility, empowerment and control, the socioemotional states alongside the medical, and the use of the clinician as the material. I am sure with further research that more principles will be added but these four principles allowed my method to become more organized and solidified.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201