Free to talk about violence: A description of art therapy with a male service user in a low secure unit

Abstract

A low secure unit is a challenging environment in which to work. This article charts the progress, development and role of art therapy within a low secure ward for male clients within a National Health Service (NHS) setting. Through a case example, it will describe how the image is central to the therapeutic process of treating offending behaviour. I will also explore how art making can build safety and security in different ways through selected examples of art images and accompanying dialogue. The dialogue is selected from a service user report and my own therapist report. Since the 1980s and '90s low secure units have grown around the country. They are subject to continuous public scrutiny, making them tense environments in which to work. I hope that my observations about practice will be of interest to other art therapists working in forensic and related settings. Art therapy approaches in forensic settings vary in their treatment approach to offending behaviour. I will describe the context in detail and explore the practice through a case example.