Assessing the Extent to Which Art Therapy Can Be Used with Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Thematic Analysis of Published Studies

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dc.contributor.authorLaird, L., & Mulvihill, N.
dc.date.accessioned2022-06-27T14:28:21Z
dc.date.available2022-06-27T14:28:21Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractIn 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.en_US
dc.identifier.citationLaird, 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.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10538712.2021.1918308
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11212/5450
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherJournal of Child Sexual Abuseen_US
dc.subjectchild sexual abuseen_US
dc.subjecttreatmenten_US
dc.subjectart therapyen_US
dc.subjectlimbic systemen_US
dc.subjecthouse-tree-person drawingsen_US
dc.titleAssessing the Extent to Which Art Therapy Can Be Used with Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Thematic Analysis of Published Studiesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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