Research

My current research centers around the following domains:

Adjustment to Trauma, Injury, and Illness

• Understanding the experiences of individuals with a history of traumatic injuries, disabilities, and chronic health conditions
• Developing person-centered interventions for supporting individuals and their families for adjustment to stress and injuries (such as PTSD, TBI, and burns)

Art Therapy and Art Media Use with Diverse Populations

• Examining therapeutic applications of receptive (e.g. art viewing using Visual Thinking Strategies) and expressive art engagement (e.g. active art making) for well-being
• Investigating specific use of art media and approaches (e.g. visual metaphorical elicitation, collage art, digital art making, puppet making, traditional/indigenous arts) in varied settings and populations

Psychotherapeutic Processes and Mechanisms

• Investigating the neurophysiological correlates, active factors, or mechanisms of art therapy interventions that facilitate change
• Examining pathways and trajectories of outcome variables related to long-term health outcomes among individuals who have TBI

I am keen on employing novel data visualization techniques in art therapy research. My work centers on providing stakeholders with tools and strategies to understand research and promote wellness-outcomes in healthcare and related disciplines.

Check out this graphic summary of my preliminary research on art therapy with adult burn patients.