People We Serve • 179this newfound awareness of his inner life. As he became stronger, he related more and more
to the others, developing genuine friendships such as those he later formed in college. One
of his favorite creations was a powerful phallic head of a king, symbolizing perhaps the
strength he was beginning to realize in himself. On the DVD you can see Sam’s story from
the film about the group, The Green Creature Within (B).
Through the leaders and the other group members, Sam was able to grow in remarkable
ways. When the group ended after two years, Sam continued in individual art therapy until
shortly before he left for college. His letters from school were full of humor, and sometimes
included drawings, like a view from his window (C), which were far more realistic than
what he had done in group. In college Sam was not only academically successful, but went
on to a highly responsible international position where he could comfortably use his exten-
sive linguistic knowledge.
Adults
While most adults are reluctant to use art materials at first, many can be helped to do so
when the activity is explained as another way to work on their problems, and one that may
speed up the process (Figure 8.10). Art therapy is also appealing to normal adults who want
to improve the quality of their lives, whose goal is not so much symptom relief as it is per-
sonal growth. Identity formation is a task that continues as people go through the life cycle,
as in the story of Laurie in Chapter 4 or Gloria in Chapter 7.
Using art materials, parents can draw about their children, and couples can deal with their
relationships—like Mr. and Mrs. T. in Chapter 1. In fact, people can represent practically
Figure 8.10 A woman beginning a self-portrait.