Art Therapy With Puppet Making to Promote Emotional Empathy for an Adolescent With Autism

Abstract

There is a growing interest in understanding how individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience empathy to explore their social-emotional and communication impairments. Although there has been considerable research into autism and cognitive empathy, research into emotional empathy is scarce, and there is less on the impact of teaching social skills. This study explores the use of art therapy with puppet making and puppetry using the Expressive Therapies Continuum (Kagin & Lusebrink, 1978) to promote emotional empathy in individuals with ASD within the larger goal of addressing socialization.

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge Stacey Nelson, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC, internship supervisor and Donna Betts, PhD, ATR-BC, The George Washington University Art Therapy capstone advisor, for their support and guidance.