Psychological growth through Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy training in Japan. (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ono, Kyoko
• Is Part Of: Person-centered & experiential psychotherapies. Volume 17:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Expressive arts therapy -- nonverbal expression -- difficulty -- PCA -- body awareness; Psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Experiential psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Client-centered psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.8914
• DOI: 10.1080/14779757.2018.1440623
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-9757

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Interview research was conducted in Japan with Japanese participants who had completed Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy (PCEAT) training. This research was done to illustrate the process of psychological growth in PCEAT training in Japan. The interview data was analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results of this study suggest several aspects of psychological growth in PCEAT training. For the participants in PCEAT training, it appeared that the difficulties and crises encountered in the training course served as opportunities for psychological growth. The researcher found that awareness of the body helped participants to be in the present and get in touch with their feelings during PCEAT training. Nonverbal artistic expression exercises, focused on body awareness, propelled participants to get in touch with their body and thus get in touch with their emotions. Finally, the research suggests that a safe and supportive PCA environment is essential for participants' psychological growth.