152 • Introduction to Art Therapy
of all ages. One art therapist reported acting as graphic secretary for the child, and another
used the similarly playful traditional fold-over drawing game (Wadeson et al., 1989).
Although the use of one’s artist-self is probably quite common in the work of art thera-
pists, there may be reticence in reporting it because of the obvious counter-transference
hazards. It is indeed possible that an art therapist’s own exhibitionism, competitiveness, or
lack of sensitivity to the patient’s defenses might cause such an experience to be disruptive.
Another reason for the selective use of this tool is that it can absorb too much of the artist
clinician’s attention.
Nevertheless, most art therapists have worked with materials alongside patients in a vari-
ety of ways, and for a great many possible reasons. One is to model behavior, as in the “Pied
Piper” effect I described in Chapter 4; another is to defuse anxiety about using materials
and being observed, which I did in a family art evaluation that is seen on the DVD (E). Yet
another is to convey an idea graphically, a useful form of interpretation.
An original method of mutual communication has been described by art therapist
Mildred Lachman Chapin (Rubin, 2001). After first talking with the patient about current
concerns, both draw simultaneously, neither one seeing the other’s image (Figure 7.4).
Figure 7.3 My painting of Ellen, an elective mute.