Therapeutic Factors of U.S. Veterans Exhibiting Art Therapy Artwork in a Gallery: Multi-Year Qualitative Study

Abstract

The art therapy gallery exhibition empowered clients to share their experiences publicly. A multi-year, grant-funded qualitative study utilizing a post-exhibition survey question identified the impact of an art therapy gallery exhibition for veterans. Ethical considerations included autonomy, loss of confidentiality, maleficence, and beneficence. Over two exhibitions, 17 veterans participated, and nine completed the post-exhibition survey question. The overall return rate was 60.8%. Content and thematic analyses were used to identify and code themes in the first exhibition, and comparative analysis was used with the second round of data. The findings revealed themes of vulnerability, empowerment, connectedness, and validation. These preliminary findings support publicly exhibiting artwork created in art therapy groups to target clinical treatment needs often seen in veteran populations.