ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the structure and development of early inpatient group therapy. The authors worked on an inpatient psychiatric ward at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Georgia Avenue for 12 and 10 years respectively in 1980s and 1990s. Working in a military hospital is a lesson in cross-cultural awareness: not just because many of its members are from different ethnic groups, but because the military itself has its own unique beliefs, customs, and language. Art therapy assessments are used by art therapists to: determine a client's level of functioning; formulate treatment objectives; assess a client's strengths; gain a deeper understanding of a client's presenting problems; and evaluate client progress. The Creative Art Therapy group (CAT) was more insight oriented and involved themes that were more abstract and focused on self-perception, problem solving, coping skills. Art therapy in this group provided a bridge to communication and emotional release.
