ST. STEPHEN'S COLLEGE RELEASE FORM NAME OF AUTHOR: Nancy Jean Olthuis TITLE OF THESIS: ART THERAPY IN ADDICTIONS RECOVERY: A GRAFTING PLACE FOR WOMEN’S HEALING DEGREE: MASTER OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY (ART THERAPY SPECIALIZATON) YEAR THIS DEGREE GRANTED: 2013 Permission is hereby granted to St. Stephen's College to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis, and except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. Signature ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE ART THERAPY IN ADDICTIONS RECOVERY: A GRAFTING PLACE FOR WOMEN’S HEALING by Nancy Jean Olthuis A thesis submitted to the Faculty of St. Stephen’s College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF PSYCHOTHERAPY AND SPIRITUALITY (ART THERAPY SPECIALIZATION) Edmonton, Alberta Convocation: November 2013 DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my children and grandchildren: Ian & Laura, John Matthew, Kendra, and Kara; Zane & Danielle and Aurora. May you fly with God-given wings. It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver] John 6:63 (Amp) ABSTRACT Using a phenomenological approach, my thesis question is: What is the lived experience of the women who participate in an addictions recovery group that uses art therapy featuring metaphors related to the vine. Infusing a metaphor about the various attributes of the vine, including narrative and visual art therapy images, had the intention of supporting creative elements in the women’s recovery journey relevant to 12-step programs. My interventions were based on art therapy, applied research, and theological study. I drew deeply from the natural world and Christian-based traditions, weaving art, photography, movement, and writing with ritual and spiritual practice. The vine becomes the intertwining metaphor for this study’s research. I employed phenomenological methodology as the research approach in order to search for themes and the essence of the lived experience(s) of these women, particularly examining whether or not the vine metaphor is relevant and could facilitate the participants’ therapeutic experience. Organic inquiry, which is based on the growth of a plant, inspired aspects of the method. Participants were from a Christian-based residential recovery centre for women. The data was collected from individually recorded interviews and from the mundane data that members contributed through art, non-verbal communication, and verbal comments during the group sessions. The themes support the capacity of artmaking, art reflection, and group dynamics as an efficient, effective addictions treatment modality. I constructed and included a manual called VINES (Visioning Images in Nature Empowering Soul-healing). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My Lord and my God who is always before, beside, behind, and beneath me. With deep gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Jo Ann Hammond-Meiers, whose wisdom and insight have guided me through the valleys and mountaintops of this journey. She modelled creativity and logical thought process to help keep my free-range thinking on track. She encouraged me to trust my intuition, which was a major turning point in going forward. To my art therapy supervisor, Carola Ackery, who gave added dimension to the ideas brought forward in this thesis. To the women of *the Recovery Centre* who brought this thesis to life, and the staff whose support made the research possible. And finally, to my family and dear friends for their support, understanding, and prayers. Table of Contents Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 Overview.......................................................................................................................1 In the Beginning ...........................................................................................................3 Addictions and Recovery Presented Through the Metaphor of the Vine.....................5 The Metaphor of the Vine Applied to Art Therapy Groups .........................................7 Contextualization of Organic Inquiry and Phenomenological Art Therapy.................7 Chapter One: Literature Critique .........................................................................................9 Art Therapy as Healing Modality...............................................................................13 Art Therapy and Spirituality.......................................................................................17 Nature As Healing Link..............................................................................................21 Groups and Groups in Art Therapy ............................................................................25 Addictions and Recovery............................................................................................30 Spirituality and Addictions Recovery.........................................................................34 Art Therapy and Addictions Recovery.......................................................................38 Art Therapy Groups and Techniques in Addictions Recovery...................................41 Ritual In Art Therapy..................................................................................................42 Chapter Two: Phenomenological Research and Organic Inquiry Literature.....................45 Phenomenology ..........................................................................................................45 A Phenomenological Approach to Art Therapy .........................................................49 Organic Inquiry as Research Methodology ................................................................50 Critique of Organic Inquiry as Research Methodology..............................................51 Chapter Three: Methods ....................................................................................................53 Bracketing...................................................................................................................54 Background to the Research Project...........................................................................54 Group Composition ....................................................................................................56 Ethics and Consents....................................................................................................56 Basic Structure of VINES Groups Sessions ...............................................................58 Group Themes and Chosen Art Invitations ................................................................59 Data Gathering............................................................................................................61 Validity and Reliability of Research...........................................................................62 Chapter Four: Results ........................................................................................................64 Section One - VINES Group’s Art and Art Therapy Processing ...............................64 Session 1. The Vine (GAP1) ...............................................................................65 Session 2. Pruning (GAP2)..................................................................................72 Session 3. Grafting and Connections (GAP3).....................................................79 Session 4. Nurture (GAP4)..................................................................................83 Session 5. Fruit (GAP5) ......................................................................................90 Section Two - First Order Themes .............................................................................98 Unique First Order Themes.................................................................................98 Overlapping First Order Themes.......................................................................100 Common First Order Themes............................................................................102 Section Three - Higher Order Themes......................................................................105 Art Therapy and the Group................................................................................106 Elements of Art and Artmaking ........................................................................106 Personal Growth and Empowerment.................................................................107 Awareness of Self and Others ...........................................................................108 Themes, Metaphors, and Images of Nature.......................................................110 Metaphors of Nature as Symbols for the Divine...............................................112 Core Meanings of Vine Metaphors ...................................................................112 Experience of the Divine and Personal Spirituality ..........................................115 Other Common Higher Order Themes..............................................................116 Unique Higher Order Themes ...........................................................................116 Validity and Reliability of Results ....................................................................117