This study investigated the effects of art therapy using the Rationl Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on reducing the depression of a female college student. The study participant was a 23 year old female college student with depression symptoms.
Th...
This study investigated the effects of art therapy using the Rationl Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on reducing the depression of a female college student. The study participant was a 23 year old female college student with depression symptoms.
The therapy program ran for 13 sessions from June to September, 2013, once or twice a week. Each session lasted 60 minutes. The instruments included a personality questionnaire, sentence completion test, Kinetic House-Tree-Person test, Kinetic Family Drawing, and Irrational Beliefs test. Data were analyzed using the matrix and network by Mile and Huberman (1994) based on the verbatim of each session, memos during the session, and artwork.
The analysis showed that the depression symptoms were low self-esteem, social isolation, and confusion in self-identity. The factors causing depression were divided into personal and family factors. The family factors included the rejection to existence, ignoring the criticism from family members, lack of support system, and economic difficulties. The personal factors included self-criticism and negative physical image.
Treatment factors consisted of therapist, media, and participant factor.
The therapist factor included praise and support, employing a reasonable emotional behavior technique, and therapist's self-exposure. The media factor included self-expression through symbols, experiencing positive sensation through media, self reflection through visualization, a sense of achievement and pleasure. The participant factor included sincerity and the will to change.
Treatment effects included positive attitudes towards the self, desire to communicate with others, accepting the past and present, anticipation to a new challenge, positive attitude towards one's body, and change in behavior. The analysis of the questionnaire and drawing test including emotional change in the drawings and reflection process showed that art therapy using the REBT was effective in reducing the participant's depression.
This study is a case study only with one participant, which limits the study findings to be generalized. Therefore, further studies about the effects of art therapy on depression symptoms need to be continued.