The Evolution of Art Therapy and Proposed Future Application

Abstract

The goal of this thesis is to describe the evolution of Art Therapy into the practice it is today and propose a future alternative use. Currently, Art Therapy is applied to a variety of populations and purposes with abundant research to support its efficacy. However, there is a gap in research on Art Therapy for college-aged students. Art Therapy may be a viable alternative stress-management tool for mental health providers on college campuses and could mean more participation from students in the available counseling resources and ultimately a reduction in the likelihood of the students reaching a crisis. By analyzing prior research on Art Therapy for other populations this thesis offers justification for its future use on the college campus.