The Role of Art Therapy in Enhancing Emotional Regulation for Neurodivergent Adolescents
The Role of Art Therapy in Enhancing Emotional Regulation for Neurodivergent Adolescents
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Issue Date
2025-11-17
Authors
Jones, Nikolette
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Abstract
Neurodivergent adolescents often have difficulties with emotional regulation, leading to stress, social challenges, and barriers in academic and personal development. Traditional interventions frequently fail to meet the sensory and communicative needs of this population, emphasizing the importance of exploring alternative approaches. This capstone addresses how art therapy can enhance emotional regulation in neurodivergent adolescents. A review of peer-reviewed literature from the past seven years was conducted, focusing on studies that examined art therapy interventions with adolescents who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and related neurodivergences. The methodology involved thematic analysis of findings across various studies, to identify common findings and theoretical foundations. Findings indicate that art therapy provides a nonverbal and flexible medium for self-expression, reduces emotional dysregulation, and fosters coping skills that support resilience. Also, evidence suggests improvements in self-awareness, communication, and stress management, particularly when art therapy is tailored to developmental and cultural contexts. Barriers to implementation include limited access to trained art therapists and systemic underrecognition of creative modalities within mainstream clinical practice. In conclusion, art therapy is a promising intervention for supporting emotional regulation in neurodivergent adolescents. The review highlights its potential to complement traditional therapies while addressing diverse needs through creative and individualized approaches.
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Keywords
neurodivergence , adolescents , art therapy , neurodivergent adolescents , emotional regulation , expressive therapies continuum , autism spectrum disorder
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States , openAccess