Creating Through Loss: An Examination of how Art Therapists Sustain their Practice in Palliative Care

Abstract

In this article it is argued that therapists working in the field of palliative care should be more open to acknowledging their own needs and feelings of loss when clients die. A review of the art therapy literature demonstrates that there has been a reticence about looking at this feature of our work and the reasons for this are examined. The second part of the article considers the arguments for and against working with the transference and countertransference relationship with this client group. By drawing upon personal experience as an art therapist working in palliative care, the author discusses the positive advantages that can be accrued by working in this way. He suggests that a more active engagement with transference and counter-transference issues would enhance practitioners efforts in this field, by enabling art therapists to retain their own creativity and versatility. The article concludes that an awareness of transference issues is necessary not only for sustained good practice, but for long-term survival of the therapist as well.