Art as Therapy: Research, Remedy, Repair in Addressing Behavioral Challenges in a Jamaican Time-Out Facility

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 3:35 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Language, Social Capital, and Power in Education (Table 1)

Abstract

This study explores art therapy as a behavioural intervention for students with significant behavioural challenges in a Jamaican time-out facility. Traditional punitive measures often fail to address the root causes of disruptive behaviours. Over 12 weeks, qualitative data were collected through interviews, observations, portfolios, and participatory visual research. The findings show that art therapy increased students' comfort, trust, self-expression, and interpersonal relationships while reducing disruptive behaviours. Despite positive outcomes, students expressed ongoing resistance to the facility. This research highlights the potential of art therapy to transform disruptive behaviour, advocating for its broader implementation in educational settings to foster healthier coping mechanisms and improve outcomes for at-risk students.

Author

• Loaneen Palmer-Carroll, University of New Brunswick