244 • Introduction to Art Therapy
Shapiro (Figure 11.3). By this time, most psychiatrists and psychologists who facilitated the
hiring of art therapists trained them too, as in my case. The supervision was frequent and
intensive. Dr. Shapiro, who was also a child analyst, observed art therapy sessions through
a one-way observation window. We also met for two hours every week.
Both of us were keenly aware that art therapy was “on trial” at PCGC. We needed to
prove—to those in the established disciplines of psychiatry, psychology, and social work—
that art therapy could offer something unique. Most early art therapists were required to
demonstrate the value of this unfamiliar discipline to those in charge. This is still true
whenever art therapy is new to any setting. Although such pressure is stressful, it is also a
Figure 11.3 Marvin Shapiro, MD, my mentor.
Figure 11.2 A picture from Claire’s talking book.