ABSTRACT
This chapter is based on an outpatient research study that was designed to tease out the specific contribution of art therapy in treatment outcomes when offered separately from the usual multi-modal, inpatient programme. The results suggest that art therapy can help to overcome avoidance and assist therapeutic engagement. Experienced as less confrontational than verbal therapy approaches, art therapy allowed the emergence of underlying anxiety at a pace deemed manageable by participants. Through symbolic expression, participants were able to ‘trick’ their own defences into exposing the crux of their inner conflict, and to use the insights gained to challenge previously held perceptions. Emerging symbols of resistance were experienced with surprise by veterans as they gained deeper understanding of their personal barriers to recovery.
