Deirdre McConnell

• School-based Art Therapy
• Narratives
• Creativity
• Social, Emotional well-being and Mental Health
• Trauma
• Critical Psychology
• Art-based Research

This study is born from my experience. Firstly, from my reflections on many years of personal practitioner experience in the field (as teacher, then art therapist) and secondly from my sense of the need to respond to the current crisis of concerns about the mental health needs of children and young people in the UK.

I will be taking a close look at what happens when art therapy addresses emotional well-being and mental health needs of pupils in schools.

I will explore how this fascinating reality is constructed, investigating the relationship between the systemic functioning of the school, which provides the safe space within which therapy takes place and the inner experiences of the child.

My inquiry will involve consideration of decision-making by school leaders, the practice of qualified art therapists and the engagement of children themselves.

It aims to gain understanding about what matters most to each of these people and to define more clearly what is working well and why.

Methodological approaches will be used to ensure transparency and accountability including triangulated case studies, outsider-witness team reflecting and reflexive journaling.

I aim to build upon previous research into the effectiveness of art therapy in working with children affected by emotional trauma and to address some significant gaps in research on school-based art therapy in particular.

This research intends to extend practical and theoretical knowledge in the field, and point towards areas for further research.