How do autistic children experience art therapy?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do autistic children experience art therapy?: a hermeneutic phenomenological approach
IRAS ID
347801
Contact name
Charlotte Louise Clough
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Chester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
This empirical research study explores the lived experiences of autistic
Children undertaking art therapy from a hermeneutic interpretative perspective.A phenomenological hermeneutic approach for this study will allow the collection of rich data from the participants of their lived experiences, feelings and views about art therapy. The clinician will be able to gain further insight into the use of this therapeutic intervention from the data collected. Consequently, the individual’s needs can be met through adjustments made within the clinician’s practice to accommodate this population (Dawood and Done, 2020).
The terminology ‘autistic child’ rather than child diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder is used for this study because autism is considered by autistic research participants to be value neutral akin to any other features such as race and the word ‘autistic’ allows participants to reclaim autism from stigma whilst allowing people to reframe their understandings of autism to be more positive (Botha et al., 2020).
Aims and objectives
AIM:
To provide an opportunity for autistic children to explain and discuss their experiences of art therapy, with their views on what approaches work best for them and any experiences that they find aversive or ineffective.Objectives:
To interview autistic children about their experiences of art therapy.
To explore their responses to the therapy and their satisfaction or reservations about any particular approaches or aspects of the art therapy process.
To use images created by the children to explore their experiences from a different perspective.REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0323
Date of REC Opinion
17 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion