Three Voices of Art Therapy Image, Client, Therapist

The image, the client and the therapist are three essential aspects of the art therapy relationship; each has a separate ‘voice’. In this book, originally published in 1993,the three voices come alive as the client, Kim, and the therapist, Gabrielle, tell the story of his path from suicidal despair to health and creativity through a series of extraordinary images. The images, chosen to represent the stages of Kim’s therapeutic experience, speak for themselves and convey their importance as a powerful catalyst for change. An outer voice, that of Tessa Dalley, provides a theoretical commentary on the process as it occurs, adding to the understanding of what is happening in the therapeutic encounter. This fully rounded account of clinical practice in art therapy offers a rare insight into common issues and dilemmas which will make the book of interest to both professional and non-professional readers alike.

List of illustrations The authors Foreword 1 Introduction 2 The context of practice: some theoretical considerations 3 Developmental history, assessment interview and therapist’s first impressions 4 Early image 5 Family pictures 6 Relationship with mother 7 In the cocoon 8 Breaking out 9 Search for identity 10 Dreams 11 Relationship with the therapist 12 Leaving the maze 13 Conclusion References Name index Subject index