Absent figures: A personal reflection on the value of art therapists own image-making

Abstract

This article seeks to explore the relationship between the authors artwork and her experience as an art therapist. It shows and discusses images that resonate with client themes and issues. A dynamic relationship between the authors artwork made outside the sessions and her experience in her work as an art therapist is shown and the value of the art therapists artistic parallel process is discussed. Joy Schaveriens scapegoat theory is a key concept in this article, which also draws upon wider philosophical and theoretical references which confirm the authors feelings about what art brings to art therapy.