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Dominican University of California

The Meeting of Two Minds in the Intermediate State: The Art Therapist as a Guide in the In-Between, Immersed and Assisted by Contemplative and Transpersonal Theory

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The primary goal of this research was to explore the space which arises between the art therapist and the client’s minds when working in a “we” state of togetherness. Six professional art therapists who had experience with the liminal space were interviewed about their lived experience. From the phenomenological analysis of qualitative interview, data emerged six themes: The Art Process, The Two Minds, The Therapeutic Relationship, The Liminal Space, Spirituality, and Art Therapy Culture. Overall, it was expressed how healing happens in the liminal space and how it has a definite influence on the outcome of therapy. The hopes were that deeper knowledge of how to access this liminal space, and the in-between state would be gained in order to guide future generations of art therapists. This research sheds light on the lost practice of using liminal space in art therapy, demonstrates the necessity for teaching about it and working in the liminal space.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Level thesis:degree_level
Master's Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Art Therapy
Year
2021

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Mach, Samantha
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Amy Backos, PhD, ATR-BC
  • Gwen Sanders, PhD, ATR-BC, MFT

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholar.dominican.edu:art-therapy-electronic-theses-2015-2021-1042

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Dominican University of California
Base URL
scholar.dominican.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Mach, Samantha. The Meeting of Two Minds in the Intermediate State: The Art Therapist as a Guide in the In-Between, Immersed and Assisted by Contemplative and Transpersonal Theory. Master's Thesis thesis, 2021. https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-electronic-theses-2015-2021/43