Integrating Art Therapy and Ecotherapy to Help Young Adults in Higher Education Settings

Abstract

This thesis paper was written to show the collaboration of ecotherapy and art therapy and how they can be applied to work with young adults in higher education settings. Currently throughout the United States, there are many people in higher education who do not get the proper mental health help that is needed. Art therapy can be a very valuable therapeutic experience for anyone. With modern technologies and other disturbances, the human psyche is disrupted and no longer in balance with the natural world anymore. Through ecotherapy and art therapy creating nature-based art therapy, it can help people to be able to break away from the modern lifestyle to reset themselves in understanding the natural world around them. Results of nature-based art therapy can be seen through different directives given to adults in higher education and can show that through this integration, one is able to achieve a higher sense of self, well-being, and global perspective. Conclusively, seeing clients gain a better understanding for themselves and the world around them shows that nature-based art therapy can be a powerful therapeutic path for students of higher education.