Research and Community

This chapter addresses effective practices to consider when engaging in research in community art therapy contexts. Through social research and practice-based research methods, the reader is guided to consider embodied research as an approach for grounded research. The concept of participatory research is introduced to better involve communities in research efforts to evolve the practices with the people who engage with them. Co-author, Rochelle Royster, provides an accessible and creative metaphor to understand Community Art Therapy research and the importance of liberatory practices within social research. The tenet of this chapter is to inspire researchers and creative practitioners to strive for inclusive, culturally humble, and community centered research. Offering the reader insights to reimagine research methods and thread creativity within one’s approach to lead anti-racist, non-oppressive, and democratic research that leads to social change.