Background: Art therapy has shown promise in enhancing self-understanding and emotional expression across various demographics, but its specific impact on self-image formation in collectivist cultures, such as Vietnam, remains underexplored. Self-image, which includes both physical and intangible characteristics like personality and emotions, is often intertwined with group identity in Vietnamese society, potentially overshadowing individual self-concept. Consequently, many Vietnamese youth struggle with issues such as anxiety and depression due to limited opportunities for individual self-expression.

Method: This study used a Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy (CBAT) approach to investigate the effects of art therapy on self-understanding among 45 Vietnamese youth aged 15 to 30. Participants engaged in three structured silk painting sessions designed to explore their past, present, and future self-images. The sessions incorporated aromatherapy and sensory activation to deepen emotional engagement. Following each session, participants reflected on their creations in a group setting, facilitating verbal expression and active listening. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and written feedback, analyzed qualitatively using a grounded theory approach to identify themes and shifts in self-perception.

Results: Findings suggest that art therapy facilitated enhanced self-understanding, enabling participants to construct a cohesive narrative of their self-image. Participants reported greater emotional awareness and self-reflection, often identifying aspects of their personalities and emotions previously unexamined or conceptualizing examined self-images by tangible pictures, either of objects or memories. Additionally, the sensory and symbolic elements of silk painting, combined with aromatherapy, supported therapeutic engagement by providing a non-verbal outlet for expressing complex feelings.

Conclusion: Art therapy, particularly CBAT-inspired silk painting, appears effective in helping Vietnamese youth develop a more autonomous and cohesive self-image. This approach, through its non-verbal and culturally adaptable methods, shows potential for addressing self-image-related mental health challenges within collectivist contexts like Vietnam. Further research is recommended to explore art therapy’s broader applications in supporting emotional resilience and identity formation in youth from collectivist societies.