Arts-Based Group Program Effectiveness

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Investigating the Effectiveness of an Arts-Based and Mindfulness-Based Group Program for the Improvement of Resilience in Children in Need Review of the Literature Ericka Ogletree Albertus Magnus College Abstract Holistic Arts-Based Group Program (HAP) has been development to investigate the effectiveness of resilience in children in need. The HAP teaches mindfulness using arts based methods, and aims to teach children how to understand their feelings and develop their strengths. The literature assessed the effectiveness of the HAP by using comparison and control groups, and standardized measures. In the HAP, a wide variety of arts-based methods are used to teach mindfulness-based practices. The literature “hypothesized that children…show more content…
According to the research, students who participated in the arts-based mindfulness program in the study experienced more resilient, less reactive emotionally, were more able to talk about feelings, and their parents noted that they seemed happier than they had been prior to participation in the program. Researchers have “hypothesized that by participating in arts-based mindfulness-based methods, children could learn to focus on and better understand their feelings and thoughts without judging these experiences (Coholic, Eys, & Lougheed, 2012, p.835)”. Mindfulness is described as a process of developing a nonjudgmental accepting awareness of moment-by-moment…show more content…
“Despite the limitations of this study, the preliminary finding that participating in the HAP helped the children to decrease their emotional reactivity is convergent with previous qualitative research findings that found that the HAP was beneficial for children in need (Coholic, Eys, & Lougheed, 2012, p.833)”. There were indications that arts-based and mindfulness-based methods for children in need are beneficial in a variety of ways. Research showed that individuals who took part in the arts-based sessions did appear to perceive a greater sense of “mastery post-control exercise”. “While not supported statistically in the present study, future research may want to consider whether these contrasting approaches (i.e., conventional arts-based vs. mindfulness-based arts/crafts) tackle different aspects of resiliency and self-concept perceptions (Coholic, Eys, & Lougheed, 2012, p.844)”. Research showed that it is reasonable to suggest that the preliminary findings are promising enough to support continued study in this area. Arts-based mindfulness-based methods can engage children and youth in a creative, meaningful, and relevant manner in a process that is enjoyable and strength-based. This design is meaningfully engaging with therapeutic methods
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