This study purports to understand how an art therapy program can assist a female divorcee to psychologically adjust to self esteem, depression, and relationship with others.
A single female, not only a victim of family violence but a divorcee now, is the study subject who is experiencing psychological maladjustment. The program lasted from July-4-2005
through September-12-2005 and consisted of total 16 sessions of art therapy with each session
of 90 minutes, twice a week. Four months after the program, there was the first afterward or
follow-up meeting, and the second follow-up meeting was held in eight months after the
program.
For the effectiveness of the art therapeutic program, pre-, post- and follow-up tests were
taken and analyzed on Lee's Self Esteem test(Youngho Lee, 1993), Lee's Depression
test(Youngho Lee, 1993), and Moon's Interpersonal Relations test(Sunmo Moon, 1990). Also
analyzed are the process of the program in each session, and changes of the family violence
victim's behavior, speech, and attitude, together with pre- and post-tests on K-HTP test.
The results of the study are as follows.
First, art therapy is effective for improving self esteem of the victim of family violence.
Second, art therapy is effective for reducing depression level of the victim of family violence.
Third, art therapy is effective for enhancing interpersonal relations of the family violence victim.
Considering the process of changes the client has shown, it can be claimed that the more
art therapeutic sessions the client have, the more interest the clients showed in art materials and skills, so that the client could resolve the depressed feelings through self expressions on creative activities. Realizing also that the client herself is not incompetent but an able and valuable person, she brought herself positive attitude and healthy mentality that in turn enable her to improve positively on her social adjustment, self esteem, and self perception.
Key Words : Family Violence,, Divorce, Psychological Adjustment, Art Therapy