EXPLORING THE THEORETICAL CROSSOVERS BETWEEN JUNGIAN ART THERAPY AND PERSONHOOD WITHIN DEMENTIA CARE: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

This narrative literature review explored the theoretical crossovers between Jungian art therapy and dementia care in consideration of personhood maintenance. Due to the lack of literature and clinical observations encompassing these topics simultaneously, the aim shifted towards crossexamining the available literature as separate datasets to identify any potential bridges or gaps between them. The perspective of this review has remained within the ethical considerations of personhood maintenance, exploring potential improvements to dementia care through that lens, as well as placing the art therapist in a Jungian orientated, transformative role with the intention to support and empower a patient population who have been socially and politically scapegoated. The first finding determined that Jungian art therapy regularly harnesses the strengths of this patient population by utilizing what is retained of emotional and symbolic planes. Incorporating these planes to communicate through symbolic language may alter care dynamics and aid in better understanding the needs of patients. The second finding determined the persistence of archetypal tendencies within this patient population, and that archetypal awareness in care could map out the psyche of patients and underline aspects of the self for a path towards individuation. The third finding determined the transformative effects of libido as a psychic energy, how this inner force could be redirected towards creative and identity affirming expressions within dementia care. Suggestions for further research includes analysis of qualitative studies regarding these topics individually and collectively, literature from varying cultures to underline the relevance of the theory of collective unconsciousness explored in this paper, as well as incorporating testimonies of persons living with dementia.