Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress
This retrospective case study explored the use of art therapy (AT) with an AfricanAmerican female combat veteran experiencing the effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to understand how culturally informed military AT fu...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1512565/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839629868638142464 |
|---|---|
| author | Gioia Chilton Jennifer Marie DeLucia Myissha Tompkins |
| author_facet | Gioia Chilton Jennifer Marie DeLucia Myissha Tompkins |
| author_sort | Gioia Chilton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This retrospective case study explored the use of art therapy (AT) with an AfricanAmerican female combat veteran experiencing the effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to understand how culturally informed military AT functions in the treatment of a female service member with mTBI and PTSD. Qualitative data were collected from artwork, case notes, and the therapist’s clinical reflections. Quantitative data were collected using the Emotion Regulation Strategies for Artistic Creative Activities Scale (ERS-ACA). Thematic analysis and ERS-ACA results revealed several themes. The results illustrated that art therapy supported the client to express her needs, strengths, and treatment progress; it facilitated emotional expression; supported the expression of cultural identity; and provided a method for communicating her needs to others outside of art therapy sessions. This case study underscores the potential for utilizing standardized art therapy treatment methods to benefit military-connected individuals with similar conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-824ee02c9c8149da93f33e6eb4e169b0 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-824ee02c9c8149da93f33e6eb4e169b02025-07-14T15:18:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-07-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15125651512565Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stressGioia Chilton0Jennifer Marie DeLucia1Myissha Tompkins2Intrepid Spirit Center, A.T. Augusta Military Medical Center, Fort Belvoir, VA, United StatesDepartment of Creative Arts Therapy, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United StatesIndependent Researcher, Stafford, VA, United StatesThis retrospective case study explored the use of art therapy (AT) with an AfricanAmerican female combat veteran experiencing the effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and co-occurring post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to understand how culturally informed military AT functions in the treatment of a female service member with mTBI and PTSD. Qualitative data were collected from artwork, case notes, and the therapist’s clinical reflections. Quantitative data were collected using the Emotion Regulation Strategies for Artistic Creative Activities Scale (ERS-ACA). Thematic analysis and ERS-ACA results revealed several themes. The results illustrated that art therapy supported the client to express her needs, strengths, and treatment progress; it facilitated emotional expression; supported the expression of cultural identity; and provided a method for communicating her needs to others outside of art therapy sessions. This case study underscores the potential for utilizing standardized art therapy treatment methods to benefit military-connected individuals with similar conditions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1512565/fullfemale service membersmild traumatic brain injuryart therapycombat traumaposttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) |
| spellingShingle | Gioia Chilton Jennifer Marie DeLucia Myissha Tompkins Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress Frontiers in Psychiatry female service members mild traumatic brain injury art therapy combat trauma posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) |
| title | Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress |
| title_full | Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress |
| title_fullStr | Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress |
| title_short | Art therapy with an African American female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress |
| title_sort | art therapy with an african american female combat veteran experiencing effects of mild traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress |
| topic | female service members mild traumatic brain injury art therapy combat trauma posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1512565/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gioiachilton arttherapywithanafricanamericanfemalecombatveteranexperiencingeffectsofmildtraumaticbraininjuryandposttraumaticstress AT jennifermariedelucia arttherapywithanafricanamericanfemalecombatveteranexperiencingeffectsofmildtraumaticbraininjuryandposttraumaticstress AT myisshatompkins arttherapywithanafricanamericanfemalecombatveteranexperiencingeffectsofmildtraumaticbraininjuryandposttraumaticstress |