Art psychotherapy: Understanding the experiences of first language Welsh speaking clients receiving art psychotherapy through the medium of English in north Wales

The topic of bilingualism in art therapy has been recognised as an important one for further investigation within the art psychotherapy literature; particularly, the need for qualitative research exploring the experiences of clients working bilingually. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of bilingual (Welsh-English) first-language Welsh-speaking clients receiving art psychotherapy through the medium of English in north Wales. The study used a mix of phenomenology and heuristic methodology with art-based inquiry, since it required the researcher to have had a direct personal connection with the topic of inquiry. Data were obtained from two study participants through the conducting of semi-structured interviews, which also included directive image-making. A thematic analysis identified three theoretical themes: the therapist’s Welsh language awareness; the client’s language identity, and communication. Each theme is discussed together with important sub-themes. Based on the empirical findings the study concludes that receiving art psychotherapy through the medium of English (if the recipient is a Welsh-English bilingual) does impact upon the therapeutic experience and presents a number of key recommendations regarding areas for future research, practical implications for art psychotherapist training and art psychotherapy practice in a bilingual setting.

Publisher

University of Chester

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10034/310922

Type

Thesis or dissertation

Language

en