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Creative Expressions is a 10-week community-based art therapy program for individuals with dementia and their care partners that includes guided art viewing and discussion, as well as participant art making. The purpose of our phenomenological qualitative study was to understand the contributions and meaning of the program and explore its role in supporting individuals through the experience of dementia. Four focus groups with 29 people, and one interview with a couple who were unable to participate in the focus groups, explored the depth of experiences shared by those who participated in the Creative Expressions program. Initial coding of transcripts was conducted by both researchers separately, after which we came together to share our analysis and collectively establish our themes. Findings highlight how the structure of the program, which begins with an art discussion before moving to participant art making, created an opportunity for participants to connect to their authentic human selves through creativity (including past, present, and future identities), and fostered a sense of deep safety through acceptance. Recommendations for further research and implications for the field include the need for research that prioritizes the authentic voices of people living with dementia; and the use of arts-based research practices, which can help provide emotional connection and challenge the social stigma that is associated with dementia. Research on how art therapists are uniquely positioned to provide care that considers the whole person rather than centering on the dementia diagnosis is recommended.
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