Assessing the Extent to Which Art Therapy Can Be Used with Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Thematic Analysis of Published Studies
Date
2022
Authors
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Publisher
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse
Abstract
In a 2015–2016 UK survey of 35, 248 adults, 7% reported experiencing sexual abuse as children. This review considers the value of Art
Therapy (AT) in recognizing individual needs and experiences and
supporting victims to manage the lasting impact of abuse. Three
main bodies of research were identified: the use of AT in childhood
sexual abuse (CSA) investigations; the use of art therapy in the
treatment of the psychological sequelae of CSA victims in childhood and adulthood; and an assessment of how art therapy
compares to other therapeutic approaches for CSA victims. The
review highlights that AT particularly benefits rapport building
between victim and therapist/investigator, and alleviates some
psychological consequences of sexual abuse – particularly anxiety,
post-traumatic stress, and dissociation. By engaging the limbic
system, AT may also provide a communicative form, building
a narrative where verbal communication is hindered. However,
the analysis brings attention to several weaknesses in the current
AT research: available studies tend to have small sample sizes and
few quantitative findings. This review concludes by identifying the
need for research which considers the clinical implications of AT in
CSA cases for the future.
Description
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, treatment, art therapy, limbic system, house-tree-person drawings
Citation
Laird, L., & Mulvihill, N. (2022). Assessing the extent to which art therapy can be used with victims of childhood sexual abuse: a thematic analysis of published studies. Journal of child sexual abuse, 31(1), 105-126.