A grounded theory exploring if art psychotherapy can ameliorate experiential avoidance for military veterans with post-traumatic stress

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop as a response to traumatic experiences and is often seen in military veteran populations. Experiential avoidance is a disabling feature of PTSD and has a negative impact on progression and recovery. Some research has shown that art psychotherapy can have a beneficial role for military veterans with PTSD. The following study sought to understand if art psychotherapy can ameliorate experiential avoidance in military veterans by interviewing veterans, their wives and partners and art psychotherapists. The study aimed to establish participant perception of the art psychotherapy experience and to understand if this experience can reduce the impact of
experiential avoidance.

Social constructivist epistemology was used to inform a grounded theory methodology. Data analysis of the participant interviews established tentative theoretical categories; shared veteran identity, the presence of the art psychotherapist, taking a risk, making the art, therapy as a bridge, bringing the inside out and new ways of doing old things. Three core categories informed the final grounded theory,
1) the nature of the art psychotherapy group allows for emotional risk taking,
2) the art image acts as a bridge and
3) art psychotherapy can allow veterans to approach previously challenging situations
in new ways.

Participation in art psychotherapy for veterans with experiential avoidance as a feature of PTSD would appear to have the potential for helping veterans to reduce their avoidance and better manage previously challenging aspects of civilian life. This study indicates that taking part in art psychotherapy and the subsequent alleviation of experiential avoidance may allow veterans to utilise trauma focussed psychological interventions which may have previously been inaccessible due to avoidance, thereby increasing access to an additional range of support
options for their recovery.