Family Art Therapy: Towards Possible Applications of an Underestimated Form of Art Therapy
Family Art Therapy: Towards Possible Applications of an Underestimated Form of Art Therapy

Summary/Abstract: The main purpose of the article is to present various ways of conductingart therapy with families, which is often referred to as Family ArtTherapy. In the first part, the author explains the sources and uniquefeatures of this form of work, before proceeding to characterize therapeuticinterventions described in the literature on the subject. Althoughthey are not numerous, they present a wide range of possibilities forthe use of Family Art Therapy. The author, therefore, proposes a divisioninto three main groups of problems: (1) the functioning of the familyis disturbed as a result of the health condition of one of its members;most often it is a child who is experiencing severe mental disorders,e.g. schizophrenia, mood disorders, depression, suicide attempts, etc.or ADHD, ASD and neurodevelopmental disorders; (2) the functioningof the family is disturbed as a result of external conditions: a crisissituation, or domestic violence; (3) disturbances in the relationship betweenthe parent(s) and the child. These various family problems requiredifferent techniques and exercises, which has been highlightedin the characteristics of the different ways of working with families.The article is also complemented by short descriptions of art-therapyworks prepared by art therapy students, the starting point for whichwas the use of a diagnostic and therapeutic genogram technique forcreative, artistic work and self-reflection on one’s own family.The article ends with the significant words of the precursor of Family ArtTherapy, Hanna Kwiatkowska showing the value of this form of work notonly for its participants but also for art therapists.

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