An understanding of negative reflective functioning, the image and the art psychotherapeutic group

Abstract

This paper will look at a client diagnosed with schizophrenia functioning at a negative reflective functioning (RF) level. Schaverien depicts a model of successive stages in the life of the picture. For some clients whose inner worlds are very fragmented the stage of ‘familiarisation’, the ‘immanent articulation’ may be the limits of their therapy. I propose that with the help of the group and its reflective functioning process, a client working at a negative reflective functioning level can be assisted in moving past the stage of ‘familiarisation’. I will consider how the art psychotherapy group may work as a way of exploring the mind. Furthermore, I suggest that such a client who has moved past the stage of ‘familiarisation’ can further progress into subsequent stages. I will present clinical vignettes of three art psychotherapy group sessions to illustrate this process. These groups will cover the first session, the fourth session and the thirty-second art psychotherapy session.

Keywords:

• Adult mental health
• negative reflective functioning
• self-organisation
• group art psychotherapy
• acknowledgement and assimilation
• sense of self

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my appreciation to Jeanne Nohr, fellow art psychotherapist, for her stimulating suggestions and encouragement leading to the completion of this article, and to John Kamenou.