The thesis describes a personal art therapy process in which a series of art dolls were made as an expression of a self-portrait. The aim was to record the steps of the process as precisely as possible and to explore different ways to express the self-portrait in the art dolls and the experiences awak-ened in the process. The thesis was based on the individual experiences and therefore cannot be generalized. The experiences awakened in the process served as a basis for a model for self-portrait doll workshop.

The author has previously made a few art dolls and the background for the thesis came from the author’s interest in combining the working on the self-portraits with the art dolls. The thesis is based on the theory of the art therapy process including the steps and the significance of the process as well as information of working on the self-portraits, of making the art dolls and using them as a tool in therapeutic recreation and loosely from the theory of therapeutic photography.

The research method was experiential and the research material included recorded experiences, observations and thoughts during the process. They were recorded in the thesis diary. The materials were also gathered from sketches, art dolls and the photos taken of the art dolls during the process. The process ended with the self-portrait doll exhibition, the purpose of which was to share the self-portraits with the visitors and collect their thoughts and experiences of the exhibition.

The process emphasized the meanings that the author forms for the self-portrait and the life history and reflections of the experiences. Personal meanings could be seen in the whole process of making the self-portrait doll starting from the choice of materials. The art dolls served as the concrete and multidimensional narrators of the life story.