'I like your new coat': The emergence of secure base and sense of self and other through an art psychotherapy relationship. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burns, Siobhan; O'Shea, Roseanne
• Is Part Of: International journal of art therapy. Volume 22:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 46
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Learning disabilities -- challenging behaviour -- abuse -- attunement -- attachment -- outcomes; Art Therapy -- Periodicals; Art therapy -- Periodicals; 615.85156
• DOI: 10.1080/17454832.2017.1287747
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-4832

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Art therapists working with learning disabled clients are used to adapting an art therapy model to work in a way meaningful to the individual. The attuned response to working with past trauma may often be a more interactive responsive style depending on the ability of the client to process cognitive material. This article illustrates in detail an example of an art therapy intervention which demonstrates a flexible, collaborative approach as well as presenting retrospectively gathered evidence of the outcomes of the work. It highlights the ability of an art therapy relationship to enable positive changes in a client whose distressed behaviour could not be managed by behavioural strategies or use of psycho-active medication alone.