Working with parents in parent–child art psychotherapy

Abstract

This article is part of a broader study that addresses the consolidation of a parent–child art psychotherapy model. It outlines the advantages, challenges, and art interventions that can be used by art therapists when working with parents. Twenty parent–child art therapists participated in this study. Fifteen were interviewed regarding their practical experience. The therapists’ perceptions of parents’ attitudes towards the experience of participation in therapy, encouraging parents to participate in the therapy, parental guidance, using art in therapy meetings, and the therapists’ own parenting were characterized. The findings can help familiarize mental health therapists, art therapy students, and novice art therapists with the parental aspects of the parent–child art psychotherapy model.