Start Date
April 2025
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
This exploratory research study examines clients' attitudes towards the Victims Assistance Liaison Unit’s (VALU) ‘Shoot This, Not That’ project, an art therapy-based intervention for victims of homicide. The purpose of this study is to provide VALU with client feedback about unique interventions, encouraging VALU to accommodate the needs of the clients served. Homicide survivors face unique psychological challenges, including complicated grief and trauma, often requiring specialized therapeutic approaches beyond traditional grief interventions. Findings from studies with trauma survivors suggest that art therapy, particularly when combined with other therapeutic modalities, can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD while fostering resilience and improving quality of life. While research specific to art therapy for homicide survivors is limited, evidence from related populations indicates promising results. Art therapy provides a nonverbal medium for expression, allowing survivors to externalize emotions, process trauma, and rebuild their sense of self in a safe environment. The Cincinnati Police Victims Assistance Liaison Unit facilitated and organized a therapeutic art therapy project called ‘Shoot This, Not That,’ which empowered youth survivors using photography to raise awareness on the impact of gun violence and express their experiences with homicide in their community. It was intended that a survey, which asked questions about the impact of the art therapy project, would be distributed to the original youth survivors of ‘Shoot This, Not That.’ However, data was unable to be collected; therefore, further investigation into the impact of VALU’s project is recommended.
Keywords: art therapy, victims of homicide, grief, trauma, police
Art Therapy Interventions and Victims of Homicide
2nd floor - Library
This exploratory research study examines clients' attitudes towards the Victims Assistance Liaison Unit’s (VALU) ‘Shoot This, Not That’ project, an art therapy-based intervention for victims of homicide. The purpose of this study is to provide VALU with client feedback about unique interventions, encouraging VALU to accommodate the needs of the clients served. Homicide survivors face unique psychological challenges, including complicated grief and trauma, often requiring specialized therapeutic approaches beyond traditional grief interventions. Findings from studies with trauma survivors suggest that art therapy, particularly when combined with other therapeutic modalities, can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD while fostering resilience and improving quality of life. While research specific to art therapy for homicide survivors is limited, evidence from related populations indicates promising results. Art therapy provides a nonverbal medium for expression, allowing survivors to externalize emotions, process trauma, and rebuild their sense of self in a safe environment. The Cincinnati Police Victims Assistance Liaison Unit facilitated and organized a therapeutic art therapy project called ‘Shoot This, Not That,’ which empowered youth survivors using photography to raise awareness on the impact of gun violence and express their experiences with homicide in their community. It was intended that a survey, which asked questions about the impact of the art therapy project, would be distributed to the original youth survivors of ‘Shoot This, Not That.’ However, data was unable to be collected; therefore, further investigation into the impact of VALU’s project is recommended.
Keywords: art therapy, victims of homicide, grief, trauma, police
