Moments of change in the art therapy process

Abstract

“How does art therapy work? What factors are responsible for the effectiveness of art therapy?” (AATA, 1999). These fundamental questions about the art therapy process were recently raised by the Art Therapy Research Initiative. Surprisingly, there is still a lack of systematic observations that would allow us to understand better how clients change and learn in the process of art therapy. There is a need to develop a deeper understanding of the therapeutic action of art therapy based on the study of art therapy in action. Therefore, I decided to study the art therapy process by observing an art therapist in her sessions with several emotionally disturbed children. This research gave me the opportunity to experience the art therapy process from an unfamiliar perspective, as an observer, and to document and analyze in great detail what happened in sessions. I interviewed the art therapist to learn how she understood the unfolding therapeutic process. One of her remarks about a profound experience in working with a 6-year-old girl caught my attention and eventually focused my inquiry: