Art therapy with women with borderline personality disorder: A feminist perspective

Abstract

Considering the personal and political from a feminist perspective, this article examines the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD) among a majority female population. The acknowledgement of feminist issues is explored within art therapy as a profession, and art therapy that considers a feminist therapeutic approach with a female BPD client group is considered through the case study example of one session of an art therapy group run on a female BPD ward.

Keywords:

• Feminism
• borderline personality disorder
• self-harm
• women
• sexual abuse
• feminist therapy

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Gavin Round, Charlotte Elliston, Joan Woddis and Monica Casey for all their help and support.

All names have been changed to protect anonymity and written consent was obtained for the use of all images.