12 • Introduction to Art Therapy
parents brought him back when he had a new bout of anxiety symptoms at age 11. Since he
had enjoyed his first experience (one of the many reasons for art therapy’s success with chil-
dren), Alan was more than willing to come for another brief period of treatment.
Alan at Four Alan was a very tense little boy. Recently, he had begun to stutter and wet his
bed. His parents, who had separated shortly before his symptoms appeared, were concerned
about his increasing anxieties. During three years of weekly art therapy, Alan created dra-
matic disasters with blocks and clay figures, like tornadoes or earthquakes, knocking every-
thing and everybody down. He also painted many volcanoes (F). Over time, there were
fewer and more manageable disruptions. By the time he decided to stop coming, he was a
much more relaxed fellow.
Alan at Eleven Four years later, however, Alan began to have new versions of his old prob-
lems, something that often happens in the upheaval of puberty. While he no longer wet his
bed and his speech was fluent, Alan was inhibited in other ways. Though strong, he would
allow bullies to taunt him without fighting back. He had also lost interest in playing with
other kids.
His parents asked if Alan and I could try working together again since it had helped when
he was younger. At first he denied that he had any problems. But Alan also drew while he
talked, mainly about how bored he was in school. The drawings offered clues to his inhibi-
tions. After a few weeks of architectural designs, he began to describe and draw his plans for
torture chambers (G), an interest he had when he was younger, too.
At this point Alan was able to tell me about intrusive thoughts of awful things happen-
ing to his father, his mother, or both. My understanding was that he was once again having
problems with his anger at his loving but busy parents. After several months of weekly ses-
sions, Alan seemed more comfortable with his anger, but still wanted a way to counter his
“bad thoughts.” So I told him about some cognitive-behavioral methods, using techniques
like “thought stopping,” and he figured out a few of his own.
Moreover, Alan’s complaints about school were legitimate. A creative boy, he was stifled
in his conservative school, so I suggested that he and his parents explore other options. They
finally settled on another place, where Alan’s artistry was valued, and he began to enjoy
school again. He even made so many friends that he asked to be allowed to stay for the “After
School Program,” and we were able to say goodbye.
Alan’s aggression was something he was frightened of and against which he defended
himself, creating symptoms like enuresis and obsessional thoughts. Jack, who was older
than Alan when he began art therapy, had been a “difficult” child since he was very young,
exasperating his parents and teachers with his oppositional behavior. However, when he
developed panic attacks in addition, his frightened family brought a very resistant boy for
art therapy.
Art Therapy Allows an Anxious Boy to Feel Secure: JACK (12)
Although Jack had always had problems in school, his parents had resisted the teachers’
suggestion that it might help him to see a therapist, thinking that he would outgrow it and
not wanting anything to be “wrong” with their beloved only son. Nevertheless, when as
a preadolescent he suffered a series of panic attacks, they became worried and decided
to consult a clinician, to see if therapy might help. Jack himself was extremely negative
about seeing a “shrink,” keeping his sessions a secret from his friends and even from