78 • Introduction to Art Therapy
steadiness and predictability from an art therapist as from a talk therapist. What is added
is a need for clarity and consistency in offering materials, evoking their use, facilitating
expression, and dealing with artistic products. Creating an environment in which people
can feel metaphorically held and secure is as much an art as a science, regardless of the
actual setting.
This is something with which art therapists are especially concerned, because of the par-
ticular requirements of a place where authentic creative work is really possible. As with
other aspects of clinical style, individuals find their own way to make even the most unlikely
setting workable and inviting. Most art therapists work hard to create a peaceful and pro-
tected atmosphere, one where the spirit can safely soar.
Time and frequency are also important elements of the framework. Many kinds of art
activities need adequate time as well as sufficient space, and some require continuity. While
compromises are often necessary, the art therapist’s understanding of the importance of all
aspects of the physical and psychological framework is vital to her ultimate success.
Doing Art Therapy: The Interface
Armed with a solid understanding of both art and therapy, each of which is outlined above,
the clinician is then prepared to put them together in the conduct of art therapy itself. As
noted earlier, it is the interface between art and therapy that is the essence of the work. The
chapters in the “Interface” section of The Art of Art Therapy (Rubin, 1984) deal with the
need to accomplish a series of tasks in steps that include: setting the stage, evoking expres-
sion, facilitating expression, and looking at and learning from the art and the experience of
creating (DVD 4.4).
Setting the Stage
The first task is to set the stage, in both larger and smaller arenas, as noted in the discussion
of the necessary conditions for effective therapy. Art therapists are usually quite skilled in
creating a studio/working space that is both orderly and inviting (cf. C. H. Moon, 2002;
Jones, 2005). Doing these well requires artistry as well as knowledge. A prepared environ-
ment, however, is just the beginning.
Evoking and Facilitating Expression
Art therapists work hard and thoughtfully at evoking expression. Stimulating often-resis-
tant individuals to work creatively with materials requires skill and inventiveness. The way
in which people are invited to work is complex, since there are many possible variations on
materials, tasks, and ways of working. On the DVD you can watch child psychiatrist Robert
Coles inviting a child to draw his uncle who has been shot and about whom the boy has been
talking (A). You can also watch me inviting members to make a family representation (B).
Once people have gotten started, the art therapist’s job is to make sure they can work
with the utmost freedom and success, while carefully observing each step in the process.
There is an art to facilitating expression in a way that honors each person’s creativity, yet
provides assistance when needed. On the DVD you can observe Vera Zilzer watching the
sequence of items drawn by Robert, a man with schizophrenia (C).
Looking at and Learning from the Art Process
One of the ways in which art therapy differs from other therapeutic uses of art is the fre-
quency with which the clinician helps the patient to learn from the experience as well as