1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« The subject area of this research paper is grounded on the psychotherapy of a four year old boy, Charles, who was taken to the Child and Family Psychiatric Consultation and Treatment Clinic of a children’s hospital in a large urban setting by his parents because he was displaying vaguely described behavioral problems in adjusting to nursery school, as well as long term behavioral difficulties at home. I will present a case study; its stance is exploratory and process oriented and it is a qualitative research study. » (p. 1)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Case study: Charles, a 4 years old boy

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

« This paper will explore the primary research question, How can Art Therapy offer reparative experiences for a child with behavioral difficulties related to Separation Anxiety Disorder? Through a case study and literature review I will demonstrate that such reparative experiences are interactive in a twofold dimensional conceptualization of the art therapy process. The first is carried out in the realm of play and supported art making; the second one properly takes place in the relationship between the therapist and child. The subsidiary research question addressed is, What are the conditions leading to separation anxiety in general and in particular, in the case of Charles?
Through Charles’ play with art materials, a therapeutic alliance was promptly established. Charles was able to eventually gain enough confidence that allowed him to relax sufficiently to engage in a symbolic process that seemed reparative, on a number of levels, for experiences surrounding his premature birth. In accordance with attachment theory, it can be hypothesized that these experiences laid a foundation for behaviours and parent/child relations which eventually were diagnosed as Separation Anxiety Disorder and a Parent/Child Relational Problem. A short explanation of Bowlby’s theory of attachment will be addressed to solidify these points.
Charles seemed to have made a progression from what first appeared as oppositional behaviour and chaotic artwork to that of more cooperative behaviour, order and symbolic representations of what he needed to express. He utilized materials well to make his needs known and to get out his many mixed emotions, rendering creative expressions to work through his conflicts. These appear to fit into the category of Winnicott’s Object Relations which involves a processing of transitional phenomena. Through the creation of transitional objects, Charles was able to move from object relating to object usage, thereby, achieving a more solid ego or self that is more at ease with the world of others. Charles’ use of art materials is described in a case study and then discussed and analyzed through the five different ways of using art materials that art therapist, Edith Kramer, has outlined and put together for considering a child’s work with art materials. She has further related these to Winnicott’s theory of Object Relations.
In conclusion, I will address the issue of memory retained at the time of birth, quoting the controversial work of T. Verny (1981) and offering a suggestion for future investigation in this area. » (p. iii-iv)