Led by Anna Henson
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Co-Investigator:
Dr. Dennis McChargue, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Study Overview:
Bridging creative, technical, and socio-behavioral research, this pilot study will create and deliver a curriculum designed to support people who use drugs (PWUD) in recovery from addiction. Building from research supporting the use of yoga and mindfulness techniques in SUD treatment, as well as creative arts therapies, participants will experience movement sessions and avatar design sessions, culminating in the creation of a “Somatic Avatar.” Somatic Avatars are visual 3D personal representations created with software, incorporating movement and metaphor designed by the participants. Drawing from research in games and online identity presentation, the Somatic Avatars aim to be a tool to explore participants’ experience with addiction and recovery, and to externalize and communicate experiences which can be difficult to verbalize. Sessions will include embodiment and visual expressive practices exploring emotional identification and regulation as well as personal identity and representation. The research team will work in a relational way with study participants, to see and validate participants’ experience and stories, reduce stigma, and help facilitate the creative and technical processes involved. Using a mixed methods approach, data will be collected during the workshops in order to analyze the impacts of the designed curriculum, contributing to possible future therapeutic uses.
Future research building on this pilot study would aim to create and distribute a “Somatic Avatar Toolkit” based on this curriculum, utilizing open source software tools, movement methods, and workshop facilitation guidelines, in addition to support resources. With consent and anonymity, some of the material generated in the workshops may become material for a public exhibition, to share the stories of our participants and resources for support and help with addiction and recovery.
Specific Aims:
(Aim 1): To investigate new methods for the integration of creative arts based programs and therapies within PWUD (people who use drugs) populations.
(Aim 2): To contribute to research utilizing participant-focused, co-designed methodologies, within socio-technical and socio-behavioral research.
(Aim 3): To draw connections between cognitive therapies and less commonly implemented arts and movement therapies.
(Aim 4): To deliver skills-based curriculum with study participants in which various movement, somatic, and arts techniques will be explored.
(Aim 5): To facilitate creative expression as a supportive tool during addiction recovery.
(Aim 6): To help participants learn somatic resourcing as a tool for emotional regulation and support during their treatment and recovery journeys.
(Aim 7): To raise awareness, tell the stories, and combat stigma of populations struggling with drug addiction, and make results and resources accessible to communities at low/no cost.
(Aim 8): To practice harm reduction and inclusive, trauma-aware best practices through non-judgemental discussion and cultivation of safe, accepting, and non-coercive space.
Study Sample Population:
In total we seek to recruit 30-35 adults with a substance use history to participate in the proposed project.
We first seek to conduct a mini-pilot study with two groups of 5 participants. Then we seek to conduct a larger pilot with 20-25 participants.
Unique Study Procedures:
1. Movement Practices (i.e. dance, meditation, trauma-informed yoga)
2. Avatar Creation (technical, artistic, and psychological components)
Long-Term Goals:
This project aims to directly support participants in the recovery process by offering participants new skills, vocabulary and techniques. The project also aims to contribute to research in creative arts therapies with this population. Results from this pilot will provide the framework for the creation and distribution of a “Somatic Avatar Toolkit” to community centers, treatment centers, universities, and libraries, as well as further research at the intersections of Human Computer Interaction, Media Literacy, and Mental Health.
Anna Henson
Project Director
Anna Henson is an Assistant Professor of Practice at the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts at UNL. She is an artist, researcher, and educator in emerging media arts, with a background spanning theatre, media production, immersive technologies, and human computer interaction research. Her hybrid experience informs her design methodologies and critical perspectives within media, AR/VR, and body-centric technologies. Henson strives to build interdisciplinary and inclusive dialogue through shared language and new processes, and connect diverse ideas, populations, and causes together to creatively solve problems. She holds a Bachelor of Special Studies in Fine Art and Art Therapy from Cornell College, a Master of Fine Arts from The Glasgow School of Art, and a Master of Science in Computational Design from Carnegie Mellon University. Henson has contributed research to ACM and DIS publications, and has worked in art therapy with children, teens, and adults experiencing trauma and mental illness. She has volunteered in arts and play therapy for hematology and oncology patients in children’s hospitals and completed a certification in Mental Health First Aid with the National Council on Behavioral Health. Henson is committed to community-based programs and equity in creative arts, education, and broader health and wellbeing.