48-4 Essential Elements of Group Intervention for Chinese Women with Breast Cancer Using Expressive Arts Therapy
| Nien-Hwa Lai | Yu-Cheng Chang | Chuan-Yung Huang | Ting-Chen Kung | Wei-Chieh Lin | |||||
| National Taipei University of Education | National Taiwan Normal University | National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Science | Chuanghua Student Counseling Center | Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance |
This study aimed to explore the intervention plan, mediating factors, and effects of expressive arts therapy for the group work for women with breast cancer in Chinese culture. Using qualitative methods as well as individual interviews and focus groups, we tried to understand the experiences of members and leaders in an expressive arts therapy group for women with breast cancer. The results showed: (1) The factors mediating the group work are “multiple roles and the self-sacrificing and devoting trait of Chinese women,” “differences in the illness process promoting member interaction,” “member attendance restricted by family and physiological reasons.” and “the uncertainty of illness promoting group dynamics.” (2) The characteristics of the intervention plan are “turning to the present using diverse forms of expression,” “re-focusing on self-image by image visualization,” “breaking social framework and buffering anxiety using metaphors,” “creating resonance by non-verbal communication,” “finding self-efficacy in controllability,” “reconstructing lift attitude for transformation,” “expanding perspectives across time and space in role reversals,” “keeping artwork to witness changes.” (3) Suggestions for leading groups for Chinese women with breast cancer: “leader taking a non-expert stance,” “using the group as a platform for sharing information,” “using breast cancer to talk about self-concept,” “important issues including family, intimate relationships, loss, and self-care.” (4)The effects of the intervention plan are promoting members “to gain inner awareness and integration” and “to express and connect interpersonally.” Finally, discussions based on these results and intervention plans for future work were provided.
Keywords
Chinese culture、expressive arts therapy、group psychotherapy、women with breast cancer
Download