The efficacy of art therapy on hope and resilience in youth within a secure care centre

ABSTRACT

Background

Art therapy is one rehabilitation treatment which enables youth in secure care to express unresolved conflicts, increase self-esteem, and gain insight to personal experiences in a creative and supportive therapeutic space.

Aims

This study investigated hope and resilience outcomes following art therapy for youth residing in a secure care centre located in Canada.

Methods

In this pre–post experimental design study, thirteen (N = 13) youth, ages 12–19, received 12 weekly individual art therapy sessions. Hope, resilience, and goals were measured using the Children’s Hope Scale (CHS), the Resilience Scale (RS-25), and the Bridge Drawing with Path (BDP) art-based assessment.

Results

Results indicated that the 12 weekly individual art therapy sessions enhanced hope and resilience in youth residing in secure care by 29% and 16%, respectively.

Conclusions

Secure care environments may benefit from incorporating art therapy as a rehabilitation treatment to improve youths’ levels of hope, resilience, self-determination, and future pathways.

Implication for Future Research

Future studies should utilise a group design with a control group to evaluate the effects of art therapy on youth residing in secure care environments.

Plain-language summary

Art therapy is one rehabilitation treatment which enables youth in secure care to express unsettled conflicts, increase self-esteem, and gain understanding of personal experiences in a creative and supportive therapeutic space. This study investigated the effectiveness of art therapy on the levels of hope and resilience in youth residing in a secure care centre located in Canada. In this pre–post experimental design, thirteen youth, ages 12–19, received 12 weekly individual art therapy sessions. Hope, resilience, and goals were measured using the Children’s Hope Scale (CHS), the Resilience Scale (RS-25), and the Bridge Drawing with Path (BDP) art-based assessment. Results showed that the 12 weekly art therapy sessions enhanced hope and resilience in youth residing in secure care by 29% and 16%, respectively. Secure care environments may benefit from including art therapy as a rehabilitation treatment to improve youths’ levels of hope, resilience, self-determination, and future pathways. Future studies should use a group design with a control group to measure the effects of art therapy on youth residing in secure care environments.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy
• bridge drawing with path
• hope
• resilience
• secure care
• youth

View correction statement:

Correction

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the youth who participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17454832.2023.2180923)

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Barbara Collins

Barbara Collins, MA, RP, RCAT, holds a Master’s degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy from Wilfrid Laurier University and a diploma in art therapy from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. She is currently working at a large mental health organisation in Canada.

Olena Helen Darewych

Olena Darewych, PhD, RP, RCAT, is a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, a Registered Canadian Art Therapist, and Adjunct Faculty at Martin Luther University College-Wilfrid Laurier University. She is also a Past President of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. Her research and clinical work explores the intersection between art therapy and positive psychology.

Daniel J. Chiacchia

Daniel J. Chiacchia, MA, holds a Master’s degree in Social and Personality Psychology from York University and he is currently a Research Advisor at a large mental health organisation in Canada.