Art Therapy and Applied Improvisation: High Impact Learning Strategies to Enhance Communication and Professional Identity

ABSTRACT

Students who engage in high-impact learning initiatives such internships, capstone research projects, and collaborative activities report gains in personal development that include growth in self-confidence, increase in independent work and thought, and a sense of accomplishment. These are integral to professional identity and competency in graduate training of art therapists. The authors projected that students who participate in applied improvisation workshops would identify an impact on their personal and professional development through increased skill development and confidence. Program evaluation found applied improvisation and art therapy workshops for the enhancement of graduate art therapy students’ clinical skills to be successful in increasing students’ self-assessment of communication skills and enhancing a sense of professional identity and overall competency.

KEYWORDS:

• Applied improvisation
• art therapy
• clinical skills
• empathetic communication
• creativity in counseling

Disclosure statement

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

Supplementary material

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Additional information

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for curriculum development and workshop implementation: This work was supported by the Robert and Alice Schloss Faculty Support Award through Herron School of Art and Design, IUPUI.