Pregnancy Reclaimed: Art Therapy as Intervention for Depression and Anxiety

Authors

  • Katherine Wardi-Zonna Department of Counseling, School Psychology, and Special Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

Depression and related mental health disorders are common during pregnancy and the postpartum. Despite cautions against the use of psychotropic medication during pregnancy, many physicians continue to use medication as a frontline treatment. A number of theories have been put forth in an attempt to explain mental health struggles during pregnancy, yet there is inconclusive evidence that hormones or other physiological changes during pregnancy precipitate this occurrence. Instead, it is theorized that sociocultural factors are at the root of female struggle during pregnancy and into the postpartum. Women find themselves in a culture that sexualizes, commodifies, and medicalizes pregnancy then capriciously and callously evaluates and criticizes the postpregnancy recovery. For these reasons, art therapy is perfectly positioned to support the depression and anxiety symptoms experienced by women during pregnancy. If women during pregnancy are allowed opportunities to use the expressive arts for wellness, it is anticipated that this means of coping will carry over to the period of the postpartum and beyond.

Author Biography

Katherine Wardi-Zonna, Department of Counseling, School Psychology, and Special Education, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Katherine Wardi-Zonna is an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling, School Psychology, and Special Education at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She received her doctoral degree in counseling psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Wardi-Zonna has been in private practice for over twenty years with a focus on individual and family therapy. She has a passion for the visual arts and uses art making as an expressive meditation. Currently, she is working toward certification as an art therapist.
Journal of the Motherhood Initiative Vol 8, No 1-2 (2017) featuring artwork by Suzanne Northcott titled "Vespers."

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How to Cite

Wardi-Zonna, K. (2017). Pregnancy Reclaimed: Art Therapy as Intervention for Depression and Anxiety. Journal of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement, 8(1-2). Retrieved from https://jarm.journals.yorku.ca/index.php/jarm/article/view/40462

Issue

Journal of the Motherhood Initiative Vol 8, No 1-2 (2017)

Section

Contents

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