The psychopathology of everyday art: a quantitative Study - World ...

ecognise and work through the situation visually. The nurturing relationships showed
two different therapy styles:
(1) Drawing or 'painting together' was used for three cases by four therapists who saw
themselves as operating from within the patient, they saw aspects of the patient resisting
or using defenses and who must be made receptive. They did this through a special kind
of bond with the patient described as a symbiotic relatedness, merging with another
person, uniting, and giving empathetic response. The therapist acted as a kind of
'psychic plumber', tracing blockages in the system and replaced the damaged part with
a new corrective experience, or provided... (what was) denied, reorganised and
restructured leaving room for further growth. The 'inside' therapists used the art as a
holding environment for the patients and saw their products as records of progress, and
as maps of the system of the patient.
(2) the other three therapists saw themselves operating outside the patient, their job was
to encourage, to focus, to help nourish the inner self and emotional needs , to help
develop insight in the patient and promote growth, they described their relationship as
an alliance, as having good relations, serving as self-objects. This relationship allied the
therapist with the patient in a common goal to communicate and saw patient's products
as communications whose meanings were obscured.
Communicative relationships
Three communication relationships were all developed with young male non-verbal
schizophrenics by female art therapists who claimed to use art as an outlet for the
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