A Heuristic Exploration of the Intersections of Social Justice Theory, Community Art Therapy, and Cultural Humility

This research adopts a heuristic method of inquiry to explore the intersections of social justice theory, cultural humility, and community art therapy to strengthen both the internal awareness and art therapy practices of the researcher. Data was collected over a structured eight-week period through art-making and reflective writing. Six core themes were extrapolated from the data, which were then applied to the researcher’s experience with a community-based art therapy engagement. Through this process of investigating authentic self-reflection and deep consideration for community-based applications, the researcher illuminated personal biases, beliefs, and assumptions to better understand personal and societal implications of the adoption of a more culturally humble art therapy practice.