Id:	31
Author:	Hilkka Putkisaari
Title:	A JOURNEY WITHOUT WORDS. A Non-Spoken Autistic Child’s Interaction in Visual Art Therapy
Award:	BA
Discipline:	Art Therapy
Keyword:	Interaction, autism, art therapy
University_College:	North Karelia Polytechnic
Country:	Finland
Year:	2006
Language:	Finnish
Abstract:	This thesis was carried out as a qualitative case study using the humanistic theoretical frame of reference, including holistic and phenomenologic approaches. The aim of this study was to examine a non-spoken autistic child’s interaction with the therapist in visual art therapy. The study had two major purposes: to examine how interaction, especially non-verbal interaction, functions in an art therapy process and to demonstrate whether or not it is possible to support and improve an autistic child’s communication skills with visual art therapy.The research material was gathered by using observations in actual therapy meetings, the therapist’s diary and the client’s pictures (drawings, paintings and sculptures). The empiric material was collected during autum 2004 and spring 2005. The material was analyzed by inductive content analysis.On the basis of the results, it was concluded, that the visual art therapy supported and improved the autistic child’s communicative skills and also enriched the client’s creativity. The target group of this study was small (only one person) which means the results cannot be generalized. Nonetheless, the study shows that visual art therapy provides a workable, humane and individual approach to work with a non-spoken autistic child.
Email:	hilkka.putkisaari@baanamail.fi
Date:	12/8/2006 10:15:20 AM

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