Conflicts in Treatment, Issues of Liberation, Connection, and Culture: Art Therapy for Women and Their Families

Abstract

The dissonance that exists between most therapies offered to women seeking treatment and their need to be heard is the focus of this paper. Women are conflicted when faced with the type of liberation and autonomy that the male-dominated therapies offer as solutions to their problems. In contrast, the opportunity to experience psychotherapy through the lens of art therapy gives the woman access to a style of communication that offers her both connection to, and command over, her choices. The author presents a variety of examples of how art therapy allows the woman client to tailor the therapy to fit her own view of the problem and discover solutions that keep her in relationships, not isolate her from her culture.