UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal

Photography is more than just an art form; it can also be used in counseling methods when working with patients. When photography is coupled with therapy, the method is widely known as phototherapy. This literature review assesses the effectiveness of phototherapy through past research. Specifically, the literature review examines how intervention methods serve an adolescent population and whether or not these methods are still effective in the 21st century. At a time when digital media has become an integral part of society, especially in adolescent culture, the research in this field is evermore important. This literature review breaks down how effective phototherapy has been when working with adolescents through examining its relationship to the youth, the population it serves, the methodologies of the study, and the future direction of the field.