1st Student's Major
Social Work
1st Student's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Students' Professional Biography
Laura Gebur is a Social Work student from Owatonna, Minnesota. She is a member of the Honors Program, and she currently serves as the President of the Minnesota State University, Mankato Social Work Club. Her research interests include medical social work and the intersection of social work and forms of therapy. She plans to enter the Master of Social Work program upon graduation.
Mentor's Name
Dr. Leah White
Mentor's Email Address
leah.white@mnsu.edu
Mentor's Department
Honors Program
Mentor's College
Extended Learning
Abstract
Art therapy is an emerging practice among mental health professionals looking for new ways to engage with their clients and encourage nonverbal communication. Creativity is a means of processing memories, improving relationships, and strengthening the mind-body connection across a variety of age groups and practice settings. The efficacy of art therapy has led to its integration into social work practice, benefitting a diverse range of client populations within the field. While a lack of macro-level research studies has prevented the implementation of standardized art therapy techniques in social work, clinical research trials have examined art therapy across several areas of practice to address common issues that clients are facing like trauma, relationship problems, mental illness, and the marginalization of LGBTQIA+ youth.
Recommended Citation
Gebur, L. (2025). Art therapy in social work practice. Journal of Undergraduate Research, 25(1), 51-63. https://doi.org/10.56816/2378-6949.1225
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Art Therapy Commons, Behavioral Disciplines and Activities Commons, Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Commons, Social Work Commons