What Is Art Therapy? • 29When an art therapist conducts an assessment, for example, she is looking with a clini-
cally trained eye and listening with a psychologically attuned ear to what is happening. She
is attentive to all aspects of behavior, hoping to understand as much as she can through the
individual’s interaction with her, with the art materials, and in response to whatever task(s)
have been presented. From these clues, she does her best to assess where he is developmen-
tally, what his primary conflicts are, and how he is coping with them. On the DVD are some
excerpts from an art evaluation with a teenager (D).
Similarly, when an art therapist works with a family, she is interested in what their art
and behavior can tell her about both individual and interpersonal dynamics. She looks at
how they relate to one another, which helps her to understand the problems of the “identi-
fied patient” and of the “family system.” Anyone observing a family art evaluation would see
an exercise in which parents and children make things individually (Figure 2.4) and jointly
(Figure 2.5), and then talk about their artwork, as in the excerpt on the DVD (E).
If the family is relaxed, it might look like a pleasant recreational activity. The art thera-
pist’s interest, however, is in understanding family dynamics—through the symbolism
of their art, in the context of their behavior. Similarly, group art therapy might look like
an art class, but learning about art is secondary to learning about the self in relation to
other people.
Participants “Know” the Difference
Eventually, the individuals involved in art therapy themselves become aware that this is a
different kind of art experience, even when its therapeutic nature has not been made explicit.
Figure 2.4 Family members creating individually.