Drawing Involves Caring: Fostering Relationship Building Through Art Therapy for Social Change

Abstract

The art therapist's ability to foster the creative process in service of relationship can be a foundation for infusing a social change paradigm into existing practice. For clients affected by discrimination and stigma, art therapy can promote empathy and understanding of the societal forces involved. In this qualitative study, 46 people participated in a guided viewing experience of artworks by individuals who were living with mental illnesses. After providing data on their familiarity with mental illnesses, their attitudes, and their level of empathy, viewers created an art image in response to an exhibiting artist and participated in a discussion. Results indicated that the facilitated experience helped to foster empathy, allowed viewers to relate to the exhibiting artists, and promoted attitudinal change. By facilitating meaningful art-viewing and art-making experiences art therapists can attend both to individuals in need and to community structures that hamper full participation in society.

Acknowledgments

Editor's Note: Jordan Potash, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, is a Teaching Consultant for the Centre on Behavioral Health at the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, and a Lecturer in the graduate art therapy program at The George Washington University, Washington, DC. Rainbow T. H. Ho, PhD, DMT-BC, CMA, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong, and Acting Director of the Centre on Behavioral Health. The authors would like to thank Friendly S. W. Au Yeung, Chief Manager, Jess K. Y. Chick, art therapist, and the artist-clients at the Providence Garden for Rehab for their support and collaboration in this research.