Towards an Ethnographic Approach to Art Therapy Research: People with Psychiatric Disability as Collaborators

This article presents an ethnographic model of art therapy research. The model is based on an assumption that people with psychiatric disability can be regarded as members of a culture identified as “disability culture.” It requires the researcher to approach informants who are in art therapy as an anthropologist entering another culture—with respect, humility, and a willingness to disregard their professional biases as much as possible. Basic principles of the ethnographic method are described and the concept of disability culture is introduced. The evolution and implementation of a pilot study designed by the author to develop and clarify the principles of the ethnographic approach are also discussed. Results of the study derived from a thematic analysis of field observations and interviews are included to suggest possible directions for future research using this method. The article concludes with specific recommendations for art therapists who want to use this research approach.