Use of a drawing task to study art therapists’ personal experiences in treating aggressive children

Therapists’ personal experiences may have an important impact on the process and outcomes of art therapy. This study examined the experiences of art therapists in treating aggressive children, who are an especially difficult population that tends to arouse strong emotions in the therapist. Interviewees were selected from among 113 Israeli art therapists who responded to a survey in which they were asked to describe treatment methods and outcomes with a single case. Two groups of interviewees, who presented the most and least improved cases, were asked to prepare a drawing task that depicted the treatment relationship. Analyses revealed meaningful differences between the two groups, in three dimensions: (1) features of the drawings (size, color, contact, etc.), (2) verbal descriptions of the relationships between images of therapists and clients, and (3) therapists’ ability to identify with their clients. In the most improved cases, therapists had a clear perception of their role in relation to the client, they projected a sense of competence and strength, they saw themselves as accepting their clients, and believed in their ability to help them change their behavior. In addition, they were able to connect with their own aggression and their own capacity for self-control.