Unpacking gender in art therapy: The elephant at the art therapy easel

Abstract

A national survey of registered art therapists in Britain was undertaken to create both quantitative and qualitative data about how ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation influence the therapeutic relationship. A tick-box scale was used alongside more open questions. This article presents the initial findings of the research and will focus on gender issues in the art therapy relationship; it will elucidate some of the ways in which art therapists conceptualise gender in the therapeutic alliance. The research indicates that the overwhelming majority of art therapists think that their own gender is very important to the therapeutic encounter. The personal preference of the client, personal history and presenting issues, which may be gender related, are highlighted by both male and female respondents. Art therapists seek to be aware and non-judgemental regarding gender. An interesting finding highlights that the transference gender might not correspond to the biological sex, suggesting that some art therapists have a ‘mobile’ understanding of gender, and are keen not to foreclose conceptual possibilities because of gender. This would also seem to indicate a permeation of postmodernist ideas into art therapy thinking.

Keywords:

• Gender
• sexual orientation
• culture
• sex
• feminism
• art therapy
• art psychotherapy
• postmodernism

We are happy to make a full set of anonymous comments sheets available to bona fide researchers as our intention is that this research is useful to other researchers, training institutions and regulatory bodies in the field.

We are happy to make a full set of anonymous comments sheets available to bona fide researchers as our intention is that this research is useful to other researchers, training institutions and regulatory bodies in the field.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Hogan

Biographical Details

Susan Hogan is Professor of Art Therapy & Cultural Studies at the University of Derby. Her books are: Feminist Approaches to Art Therapy (as editor, 1997); Healing Arts: The History of Art Therapy (2001); Gender Issues in Art Therapy (as editor, 2003); Conception Diary: Thinking About Pregnancy & Motherhood (2006); Revisiting Feminist Approaches to Art Therapy (as editor, 2012); The Introductory Guide to Art Therapy (with Coulter, 2014); and Art Therapy Theories: A Critical Overview (in press). Email: [email protected]

Shelagh Cornish

Shelagh Cornish has been a part-time Senior Lecturer teaching on the MA Art Therapy course at the University of Derby since its inception in 2002, having particular responsibility for the Reflective Practice Groups that support fieldwork placements, and as module leader for Art Therapy Theory and Research in Relation to Practice One. Since qualifying in 1991 she has continued her practice with vulnerable children, adolescents and young people, initially employed within an adolescent therapeutic community, when she also undertook further training in systemic therapy. For more than 16 years she has practised within inpatient and outpatient services, within the NHS in specialist CAMHS services in the East Midlands and more recently as Lead Art Psychotherapist within Specialist CAMHS. Shelagh is a BAAT recognised Clinical Supervisor and BAAT recognised Private Practitioner. She has operated her private practice since 1995 offering clinical supervision to a number of registered professionals including art therapists, and individual art psychotherapy and psychotherapy to adults, young people and families. Shelagh's web address is http://www.heartening.co.uk/art-psychotherapy/.