A Study on Teachers’ Perceptions and Experience of Art Therapy Fieldwork for Children and Adolescents with Borderline Intelligence

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study is to find out the direction of art psychological support for children and adolescents with borderline intelligence based on the perception and experience of art therapy practice of teachers at alternative schools for borderline intelligence. Methods The survey in this study was conducted in January 2023 with 13 teachers working in charter schools A and B for borderline intelligent children and adolescents, S city. An in-depth interview was conducted with 4 teachers who were participated in the survey. The survey of the study conducted frequency analysis, and the results of the in-depth interview were cross-analyzed and categorized by three researchers to derive the results. Results As a result, first, it was confirmed that teachers of A and B charter schools for borderline intelligent children and adolescents had a high level of understanding and interest in art therapy. Second, from 2018 to 2022, the satisfaction level of teachers and participating students regarding the art therapy fieldwork conducted at the charter school was also high. Third, concerns about the possibility that charter school students who have had various counseling and treatment experiences in the past may have formed a negative perception of art therapy, and the cause of positive change in students exposed to various environments other than art therapy fieldwork is ambiguous. Limitations such as reduced interest and concentration of students in the art therapy program repeated in units were reported. Conclusions The results of this study are meaningful in that they confirmed teachers' perceptions and experiences of art therapy fieldwork in charter schools for children and adolescents with borderline intelligence. It is expected to contribute to the emotional well-being, improvement of sociality, and school adaptation of children and adolescents with borderline intelligence who are the beneficiaries of art therapy intervention in charter schools for children and adolescents with borderline intelligence.