Our lab conducts research and evaluation studies that examine health outcomes of art therapy and arts-based interventions. In addition we evaluate psychosocial learning outcomes of school based educational interventions (in the US and internationally).
The lab is led by Girija Kaimal, EdD, and her expertise lies in the areas of health outcomes of creative self-expression, art therapy research, program evaluation, qualitative and mixed-methods research.
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The HALE lab research team has presented and published peer-reviewed journal articles on the role of changes in neuroinflammatory markers as a result of art making, technology in art therapy practice, the psychosocial outcomes of arts participation across the life span, and using narratives in research.
Keywords: Visual self-expression, stress, art therapy, health outcomes, biomarkers, military, hematology/oncology, caregivers, virtual reality, indigenous and traditional art forms
Principal Investigator
Girija Kaimal, EdD, ATR-BC
Associate Professor - Counseling and Family Therapy
Health Sciences Building, 11th Floor, Room 11W22
60 N 36th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215.262.8914
Email: gk27@drexel.edu
Arts Research on Chronic Stress (NEA Research Lab Grant) (2017-2021) $300,000, PI
Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the project involves research on arts based approaches to managing chronic stress related health conditions. The project examines a brief art therapy session on physiological and psychological well-being. The study was completed in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania Radiation oncology unit. A new study is now underway in collaboration with Tracy's Kids Foundation and seeks to examine the role of art therapy in pediatric hematology/oncology settings.
Research On Art Therapy For Active Duty Military Service Members With PTSD And TBI (2015), $378,800, PI for research and evaluation (multiple PI project)
Funded by Creative Forces (sourced from the National Endowment for the Arts), the project involves analysis of art therapy intervention data from active duty military service members at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and additional sites across the country.
Veterans with Gulf Ware Illness: Understanding the Spectrum of Experiences Related to Demographics and Aging (2019-2021); $548,615, PI
Funded by the Department of Defense Gulf War Illness Research Program, the study will examine the experiences of Gulf War veterans using narrative and arts-based methods. The study will culminate in the development of a MOOC curriculum for healthcare providers.
Virtual Reality Based Art therapy and fNIRS: Johns Hopkins University International Arts+Mind Lab Award (2019), $25,000, PI
Building on previous exploratory work on VR, this study examines blood flow in the PFC using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) while creating art in virtual reality.
Post-Docs
- Rebekka Hartwell
- Jacelyn Biondo
Doctoral Students
- Katrina Carroll-Haskins
- Marygrace Berberian
- Kathryn Snyder
- Bani Malhotra
- Asli Arslanbek
STAR Scholars
- Merlin Kochunilathil (2018)
- Alexandra Pitts (2019)
Alumni:
- Angela Guierrero, PhD: Assistant Professor, West Chester University
- Janelle Junkin, PhD
- Kendra Ray, PhD
Internal Collaborators
- Hasan Ayaz: Biomedical Engineering
- Arun Ramakrishnan: CNHP
- Michael Bruneau: CNHP
- Jennifer Nasser: CNHP
- Deeptha Sukumar: CNHP
External Collaborators
- Joanna Herres: The College of New Jersey
- Allison Hayes-Conroy: Temple University
- Susan Magsamen: Johns Hopkins
- Melissa Walker: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
- Sunil Iyengar: National Endowment for the Arts
- Bill O'Brien: National Endowment for the Arts
- Bryann DeBeer: Texas A&M University
- William Levin: Penn Medicine
- Evan Altman: Camp Lejeune
- Tracy Councill: Tracy's Kids
ARTS RESEARCH on CHRONIC STRESS (ARCS) NEA Research Labs
Drexel University is the recipient of an inaugural grant under the National Endowment for the Arts’ Research Labs initiative. The lab at Drexel—Arts Research on Chronic Stress (ARCS). This lab conducts research studies at the intersection of the arts, health, and social/emotional well-being. In addition to the research studies, the lab also connect creative arts therapies with community-based arts organizations to enhance social engagement and overall well-being in those who have been affected by prolonged stressors such as chronic pain, extended caregiving, academic stress, and trauma. In the future we will feature findings from the studies including short-term/interim deliverables; working drafts/final versions of policy briefs, literature reviews, white papers, technical guide for the field.
The lead investigators for the studies are Dr. Kaimal, EdD, MA, ATR-BC (PI, Associate Professor, PhD program in Creative Arts Therapies and Dr. Bradt, PhD, MT-BC (Co-PI, Professor, PhD program in Creative Arts Therapies).
CURRENT STUDIES: 2019-2021
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COMPLETED STUDIES: 2017-2019
STUDY 1: HEALTH OUTCOMES OF VISUAL SELF-EXPRESSION FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH CANCER
Girija Kaimal, EdD, MA, ATR-BC led the study on arts-based approaches to promoting health and well-being for caregivers of patients with cancer. The study compared outcomes from two brief visual self-expressive approaches with patients, family caregivers and professional healthcare providers. The study was conducted in collaboration with the Radiation Oncology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Caregivers of patients receiving treatment at the center, as well as health care providers, were recruited to participate. The variables to be examined in the study included affect, mood, perceived stress and indicators of physiological health. The community component of the study included a public exhibition of artwork created during the study. The aim was to examine how integration of arts into different aspects of healthcare can impacted both quality of life and quality of care.
Research team:
Dr. William Levin, MD: Penn Medicine
Juan Muniz, PhD, Lab analyst, Drexel University
Janell Mensinger, PhD, Statistician, Drexel University
Ms. Jess Drass, Graduate Research Fellow, Drexel University
Ms. Rebekka Dieterich-Hartwell, Graduate Research Assistant, Drexel University
Ms. Katrina Carroll, Graduate Research Fellow, Drexel University
Publications:
STUDY 2: CREATIVE MUSIC ENGAGEMENT TO IMPROVE CORE OUTCOMES IN CHRONIC PAIN
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Research team:
Fenqing Zhang, PhD, Statistician, Drexel University
Amy Kesslick, MA, MT-BC, music therapy clinician, Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Health Services, Drexel University
Mark Bottos, MCAT, Zausmer Program Director of the Kardon Center for Arts Therapy, Settlement Music School
Ming Yuan Low, MCAT, Graduate Research Fellow, Drexel University
Clarissa Karlsson, MT-BC, Graduate Research Fellow, Drexel University
Publications:
Papers, Media, and Technical Reports
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Reflection Papers
DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not represent the views of the National Endowment for the Arts Office of Research & Analysis or the National Endowment for the Arts. The National Endowment for the Arts does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information included in this material and is not responsible for any consequences of its use.