Art therapy for gifted adults (eBook, PDF)

Academic Paper from the year 2024 in the subject Psychology - Consulting and Therapy, grade: 10, Lesley University, language: English, abstract: This anthology delves into the theory of giftedness in adults and discusses how creative practice can aid in addressing the trauma resulting from the late recognition of neurodivergence. The research question aimed to explore how gifted adults experienced personal growth and change as a result of engaging in their own art practice. To allow participants to describe change in their own terms, I utilized the concepts of "Understanding, Acceptance, and Transformation" during our interactions. Although I used these terms, I delved deeper into distinguishing between change and transformation. Change was perceived as a temporary phenomenon, while transformation was seen as a more profound and enduring outcome. Transformation was considered as a characteristic trait, while change was viewed as a temporary state. For this study, I embraced a broad concept of transformation known as psychospiritual transformation, which represents a comprehensive and all-encompassing perspective on the various types of personal transformation a person might undergo. This concept is closely linked to transpersonal theory and involves a sustained and profound reorganization of a person's psychological and spiritual ways of being, their experiences, as well as their self-concept and worldview.