TY - JOUR TI - Transforming trauma into post traumatic growth through art therapy DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-teps-hd28 PY - 2020 AB - The experience of trauma can be life altering. The effects of trauma can be lingering and negatively impair one’s quality of life. However, if the survivor can process and address the negative effects following trauma, post traumatic growth can be obtained. One way this can be accomplished is through expressive art therapy. This paper will identify three major obstacles of healing after trauma and ways in which trauma can be effectively treated. I am proposing that art therapy can help the survivor process one’s trauma and facilitate one’s post traumatic growth by identifying and addressing identity crisis, isolation, and illness that frequently follow after a traumatic event. It is hypothesized that art therapy can restore one’s identity and combat isolation by replicating the brain processes that occur with current trauma therapies. Art therapy enables one to access the painful emotions frequently blocked by the conscious mind. Thought distortions that are uncovered can then be addressed and corrected through art expression. Presently art therapy is limited by a lack of research evidence. Future studies should examine the efficacy in the treatment of trauma through the use of art therapy. KW - Art therapy KW - Liberal Studies LA - English ER -