What Is Art Therapy? • 43She continued to come every week. When she had become more comfortable with her
angry feelings, she worked more on issues of identity, and when it was decided that she was
ready to say goodbye, on attachment and separation (5).
It was not easy for this little girl, the oldest of four with an immature mother and absent
father, to give up her special friend at the clinic; but given half a year and the ability to set
the final date herself, she managed to work through the hurt she felt. In the course of feeling
angry at me for abandoning her by “kicking her out,” she was frequently reminded of her
early monster dreams, play, drawings, and feelings.
Carla decided that for her last project she would make a film about how monsters are
really make-believe, so that I could show it to other children who might come to the clinic
in the future with fears such as hers. Using an 8 millimeter camera, tripod, light, and simple
animation techniques, Carla cut out monsters (6) that magically moved around the walls,
scaring a little girl who was at the sink. After this, the girl came to see me, we returned to
look at the heads together, and presto! They had disappeared! (7).
Making the film was a creative and effective way for Carla to review the main problem
for which she had been in therapy, to remind herself of what she had learned, and to deal
with her envy of future patients (siblings) by intruding into their space in a most acceptable
way—making a film to help them and thus transforming her jealousy into generosity.
Mixing Modalities in Treatment
My own experience with other expressive arts therapists began in a study group. The group,
which had been organized by a child psychiatrist, also included a drama and a dance therapist,
Figure 2.11 Carla’s nightmare monster.