“My heart on this bit of paper”: A grounded theory of the mechanisms of change in art therapy for military veterans

Abstract

BackgroundA proportion of veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research has shown reduced effectiveness of commonly offered psychotherapies in military personnel. Some research suggested the usefulness of art therapy for veterans with PTSD, but its mechanism of operation has been unclear. The current project aimed to establish participants’ perceptions of any impact of group art therapy and some of the perceived mechanisms of change. MethodIn a grounded theory design, single semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine veterans who had received group art therapy, two art therapists, and a veteran's wife. Interviews were transcribed and analysed. FindingsTheorised categories included (a) art therapy group as “the family”, (b) “the gentle conductor”, (c) trust, (d) doing the work, (e) art therapy as “a communication tool”, (f) “points of recognition”, (g) “making things concrete”, and (h) “not a cure”. LimitationsShortcomings included a homogenous sample who all attended art therapy alongside other interventions, reliance on subjective and unmeasured symptom change, and researcher effects related to qualitative methodology. ConclusionThe developed grounded theory is consistent with existing evidence and neuropsychological theory. Group art therapy may enable some veterans to prepare for verbal-only therapy, by offering a safe space in which to approach non-verbal traumatic and trauma-related contextual material in a controlled way. Artworks may provide a bridge to facilitate communication of experiences within subsequent verbal therapy and with loved-ones. It is suggested to replicate the project at different sites. Elements of the developed theory may be investigated further to establish its transferability.