Integrating Art Therapy and Narrative Therapy through a Multicultural Lens

This thesis examines the impact and implications of integrating art therapy and narrative therapy within culturally competent counseling. Narrative therapy explores people’s stories in a larger collectivistic context, acknowledging how one’s identity is shaped by their history, culture, and relationship to others. Narrative therapy highlights the importance of an individual’s sense of self, their perceived life narrative, and how the process of constructing and reconstructing of these stories bridge their identity and culture. The integration of art therapy could help clients communicate their stories, adding depth through visual expression and the externalization of their problems and strengths. Research has shown cultural competency, humility, and effective multicultural counseling impacts the quality of therapy received by culturally diverse clients. However, research regarding which theories and interventions are effective is limited, especially with the Latinx population