ABSTRACT

Art therapy depends on the inherently therapeutic power of art, which is available to anyone who paints or draws or sculpts. It is likely that most people who decide to make it their life’s work have personally known its healing potential. A powerful, insightful revelation of ambivalent feelings toward formerly idealized mother during analysis stimulated a rapidly done expressionistic painting. The push and pull of conflict was translated into paint, reducing inner anguish through outer representation. Experience of working therapeutically in art was with children in long-term treatment on an inpatient unit at a psychiatric hospital. Although their diagnostic labels and probable mode of treatment would be different today, they were, and would still be, in considerable psychic pain. In art therapy, as in any kind of therapy, it is a powerful experience that, regardless of the length of treatment, is best done when prepared for openly and with the participation of the patient.