Alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) Syndrome or AGS is an under-recognized chronic condition which coincides with tick-bite exposure, resulting in a unique allergy to non-primate mammalian products and byproducts (in addition to other items caring the α-gal epitope such as carrageenan, agar-agar, and nori). This paper explores the experiences of individuals with this illness, establishing psychological context for expressed symptomatology, while emphasizing the complex trauma rooted in the population’s experiences of the life-altering and life-threatening contexts associated with managing AGS. This research is structured with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory and utilizes a mixed-methods approach to arts-based research with the goal of establishing a narrative for individuals living with AGS. This transformative approach to arts based research through the use of the body mapping art intervention will be analyzed alongside in-person dialogues and validated through collected quantitative survey data. The results propose a healing illumination of the experience for the population of concern in addition to the researcher, furthering the benefits of this research through the use of film representation and advocacy. The resulting film serves to directly benefit the AGS population while functioning as a call for support within legislation and increased education across support systems, community members, and health care providers.
","abstract_html":"<p>Alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) Syndrome or AGS is an under-recognized chronic condition which coincides with tick-bite exposure, resulting in a unique allergy to non-primate mammalian products and byproducts (in addition to other items caring the α-gal epitope such as carrageenan, agar-agar, and nori). This paper explores the experiences of individuals with this illness, establishing psychological context for expressed symptomatology, while emphasizing the complex trauma rooted in the population’s experiences of the life-altering and life-threatening contexts associated with managing AGS. This research is structured with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory and utilizes a mixed-methods approach to arts-based research with the goal of establishing a narrative for individuals living with AGS. This transformative approach to arts based research through the use of the body mapping art intervention will be analyzed alongside in-person dialogues and validated through collected quantitative survey data. The results propose a healing illumination of the experience for the population of concern in addition to the researcher, furthering the benefits of this research through the use of film representation and advocacy. The resulting film serves to directly benefit the AGS population while functioning as a call for support within legislation and increased education across support systems, community members, and health care providers.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Streightiff, Sylvan"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy","degree_level":"Master's Thesis","degree_discipline":"Art Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Victoria Dobbins, MA MFT, PhD Candidate","Lisa Hinz, PhD, ATR-BC"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2023-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:05:00Z","subjects":["Alpha gal allergy","chronic illness","anaphylaxis","food allergy","red meat","IgE","Tick","galactose","complex trauma","body mapping","art therapy","ACT","MMR","film","advocacy","Arts and Humanities","Clinical Psychology","Health Psychology","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Immunology and Infectious Disease"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-masters-theses/13","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Victoria Dobbins, MA MFT, PhD Candidate","Lisa Hinz, PhD, ATR-BC"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Streightiff, Sylvan"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2023-05-03T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Art Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Alpha gal allergy","chronic illness","anaphylaxis","food allergy","red meat","IgE","Tick","galactose","complex trauma","body mapping","art therapy","ACT","MMR","film","advocacy","Arts and Humanities","Clinical Psychology","Health Psychology","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Immunology and Infectious Disease"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-masters-theses/13"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) Syndrome or AGS is an under-recognized chronic condition which coincides with tick-bite exposure, resulting in a unique allergy to non-primate mammalian products and byproducts (in addition to other items caring the α-gal epitope such as carrageenan, agar-agar, and nori). This paper explores the experiences of individuals with this illness, establishing psychological context for expressed symptomatology, while emphasizing the complex trauma rooted in the population’s experiences of the life-altering and life-threatening contexts associated with managing AGS. This research is structured with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory and utilizes a mixed-methods approach to arts-based research with the goal of establishing a narrative for individuals living with AGS. This transformative approach to arts based research through the use of the body mapping art intervention will be analyzed alongside in-person dialogues and validated through collected quantitative survey data. The results propose a healing illumination of the experience for the population of concern in addition to the researcher, furthering the benefits of this research through the use of film representation and advocacy. The resulting film serves to directly benefit the AGS population while functioning as a call for support within legislation and increased education across support systems, community members, and health care providers.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Complex Narratives of Individuals Living with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). A mixed-methods investigation: examined through self-reported data, in-person interviews, and a group body mapping art therapy intervention"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Victoria Dobbins, MA MFT, PhD Candidate","Lisa Hinz, PhD, ATR-BC"],"dc:creator":["Streightiff, Sylvan"],"dc:date.available":["2023-05-03T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose) Syndrome or AGS is an under-recognized chronic condition which coincides with tick-bite exposure, resulting in a unique allergy to non-primate mammalian products and byproducts (in addition to other items caring the α-gal epitope such as carrageenan, agar-agar, and nori). This paper explores the experiences of individuals with this illness, establishing psychological context for expressed symptomatology, while emphasizing the complex trauma rooted in the population’s experiences of the life-altering and life-threatening contexts associated with managing AGS. This research is structured with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) theory and utilizes a mixed-methods approach to arts-based research with the goal of establishing a narrative for individuals living with AGS. This transformative approach to arts based research through the use of the body mapping art intervention will be analyzed alongside in-person dialogues and validated through collected quantitative survey data. The results propose a healing illumination of the experience for the population of concern in addition to the researcher, furthering the benefits of this research through the use of film representation and advocacy. The resulting film serves to directly benefit the AGS population while functioning as a call for support within legislation and increased education across support systems, community members, and health care providers.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-masters-theses/13"],"dc:subject":["Alpha gal allergy","chronic illness","anaphylaxis","food allergy","red meat","IgE","Tick","galactose","complex trauma","body mapping","art therapy","ACT","MMR","film","advocacy","Arts and Humanities","Clinical Psychology","Health Psychology","Medicine and Health Sciences","Other Immunology and Infectious Disease"],"dc:title":["Complex Narratives of Individuals Living with Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). A mixed-methods investigation: examined through self-reported data, in-person interviews, and a group body mapping art therapy intervention"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Art Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:05:00Z"}