Study Protocol for a Virtual Art Therapy Intervention for LGBTQ-Questioning Youth

Abstract

LGBTQ-questioning youth are young people who report being uncertain or unsure about their sexual orientation or gender identity. For LGBTQ-questioning youth, current research demonstrates that they have higher rates of depression, suicidality, and bullying compared to both cisgender-heterosexual and LGBTQ youth. Therefore, this paper introduces the currently available popular treatment options for LGBTQ and LGBTQ-questioning youth at an individual, school, and state/federal level as well as the challenges associated with data collection on LGBTQ-questioning youth. The paper then discusses art therapy and its potential as an individual-level treatment option that could be particularly beneficial for LGBTQ-questioning youth due to its emphasis on self-expression and creative exploration. This culminates in a proposed protocol for a study designed to develop and analyze a virtual art therapy treatment regimen for LGBTQ-questioning youth struggling with psychosocial stressors.