A Korean art therapist’s autoethnography concerning re-acculturation to the motherland following training in the UK

ABSTRACT

In this study, the acculturation process experienced by a Korean art therapist who re-acculturated to her own culture after being trained in the UK was investigated as the art therapist built her career. Through this investigation, the study aims to share the significance behind the experience with the academic community and the educational institution in the UK that provided the art therapy training. In order to achieve this, the author chose the autoethnographic approach, which reflects the researcher’s own experience in an absolute sense and, thus, can show a minority experience through recollection and insight. Additionally, the researcher conducted early coding and in-depth coding and derived themes based on the data in accordance with the open coding method to consider a subjective experience in social and cultural contexts. As a result, four main themes were derived: ‘Acculturation in the UK: acceptance of a different culture and growth’, ‘Re-entry culture shock in Korea: resistance and anger’, ‘Re-acculturation in Korea: relearning and understanding’, and ‘Establishing a multicultural identity as an art therapist: integration’. Discussion of the results is presented.

KEYWORDS:

• British art therapy training
• Asian art therapy trainee
• Korean art therapist
• acculturation
• re-entry culture shock
• autoethnography

Acknowledgement

This article was inspired by my MA training at Leeds Metropolitan University and Sheffield Care Trust, as well as my clinical placements during the course. I would like to thank the British Art Therapy course for giving me a great educational opportunity.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Boram Park obtained a Master of Art in Psychotherapy in Practice at Leeds Metropolitan University in 2006 and a PhD in Psychology from Jeonbuk National University in 2017. She is the Assistant Professor in the Creative Arts Psychotherapy Department at Jeonju University.