A FRAMEWORK FOR HEALING: School Based Art Therapy with a Boy Experiencing Complex Grief

by Elizabeth Boutette

Using a phenomenological arts-based approach, this qualitative study researched a single case study of a nine-year-old boy who was experiencing complex grief in an art therapy school-based environment. The research was conducted to understand how art therapy supported him in his grieving process. The research looks at seventeen sessions and focuses on the key themes that emerged from the data. The research looks at the symbolic significance of how this child communicated his emotions through his art and play, and the importance of safety within the school setting to provide a framework for growth.