Grandma, what a big beard you have! an exploration of the client's reaction to a change in the art therapist's appearance

Abstract

This paper, written in the context of work with people with learning disabilities, explores the impact upon the therapeutic relationship of a change in the therapists visual appearance (in this case the growth of a beard) during the course of therapy. The principle that the image/art object in art psychotherapy embodies important transference material is validated through an analysis of the artwork (using examples of imagery made before and after the therapists change in appearance) of two clients who reacted differently to the same phenomenon. The evidence suggests that changes in the visual appearance of the therapist has the potential to significantly influence the organisational and transference structures of the art therapeutic session.