The Picture-Perfect Home: A Case Study of a 49-Year-Old Woman in Residential Treatment

Abstract

The symbol of the house has not been explored in contemporary art therapy. This case study describes how a 49-year-old woman constructed what she described as the picture-perfect home made in 18 art therapy sessions over a six-week period during a residential stay. The client’s structure had two notable components—a facade and an interior—one corresponding to her public self and the other to her private self. Her artwork exemplifies how the house may be an ideal symbol for the synchronization of public self into harmonization with innermost psyche and intrafamilial relationships.

Keywords:

• House
• public self
• private self
• case study
• art therapy

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael J. Hanes

Michael J. Hanes, MAT, LPC, ATR-BC, is Associate Director of Clinical Services at HOPE Community Services, Oklahoma City, OK.