A case study on the collage art therapy for immigrant youths

The purpose of this study is to analyze how immigrant youths’ experiences of collage art therapy were shown in their emotional changes. Research question is as follow: How do the emotional changes of immigrant youths, who participated in the collage group art therapy program, appear in their art works? For this end, 3 immigrant youths were chosen from a multicultural preliminary school. And they participated in 10 sessions of collage group art therapy. As a qualitative research, this study analyzed the cases on immigrant youths’ emotional growth, based on the participatory observation and interpretation of the symbols and components in their art works. The results were as follows: Components like symbols, meanings, individual conflict and desire, have positively changed throughout the whole sessions. Their early works showed negative symbols and passive actions as unconscious defense mechanism. Their mid-term works showed their concentration on art activities and dynamics with interest and creativity in art medium. Their late works showed positive symbols like achievement desire and adaptation to reality. Therefore, this research has significance in that it provides basic data of developing collage art therapy program for immigrant youths, implying the possibility of their positive adaptation to Korea.