216 • Introduction to Art Therapy
Nevertheless, if an art therapist is imaginative and knows a broad repertoire of possibili-
ties, and if she can provide structure and help when needed, most patients can be enabled to
have a safe and satisfying art experience most of the time. A good clinician knows when it
is best to modify or modulate the art experience, so that it is not frightening for the patient.
In other words, if the art therapist is skilled, potentially disruptive art experiences are less
likely to occur. And if they do, it is usually possible to transform them into events that are
not traumatic.
Concluding Thoughts
As Viktor Lowenfeld said so eloquently in the quotation that began this chapter, art thera-
pists know that “every human being is endowed with a creative spirit.” That conviction,
along with a belief in the power of art—to liberate, to enliven, and to heal—fuels the effort
to reach people of all ages with all kinds of psychological and physical problems. With the
energy born of this faith, art therapists have been able to fan the creative spark inside many
who had given up. From the very young to the very old, from those who are mute to those
whose words camouflage feelings, from those who live in mental pain to those who seek
self-development, art therapy can help artists and non-artists alike. Although it is a poor
recording, Lowenfeld’s words shine with the passion of his conviction that all human beings
have the capacity and the right to create (DVD 9.9M).
Many different approaches to assessment and treatment are used in art therapy, and there
is no single agreed-upon method for work with any particular group. What is clear from
reading the literature is that art therapists take responsibility for learning about the special
needs of the particular people they are trying to help. Whether patients are psychotic, neu-
rotic, or have learning disabilities, art therapists attempt to fully understand their problems
in order to help them with art in a safe and sensitive way.
Since there is such a wide range of people who can be served, art therapists can some-
times choose to work with those with whom they are most comfortable. The practice
of art therapy with different groups of people naturally varies considerably. Doing art
therapy with an autistic four-year-old, for example, is radically different from helping
rebellious adolescents, paranoid adults, or withdrawn elders. In order to be most effec-
tive, art therapists get to know the group in general as well as the individuals—who are
always unique.
In a similar fashion, the role of the art therapist in diverse settings varies considerably. In
order to be most effective, art therapists learn about the institution they work in. Whether
its mission is psychiatric, rehabilitative, or educational, an art therapist learns about the type
of place as well as the particular hospital, clinic, or special school in which she finds herself.
The next chapter will deal with the widening range of places, the people within them, and
the ever-expanding purposes being served in the developing world of art therapy.
Endnote
- Personal communication, April 17, 2008.