Art therapy and mental illness: linking the unconscious with the conscious - abstract

ABSTRACT

Art therapy or art creation therapy (ACT) is new in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a combination or art and psychotherapy and is useful as a diagnostic and treatment modality for mentally ill patients. Through art, patients' unconscious emotions, in an alternative language, find expression in images rather than words. This facilitates exploration of self, communication, catharsis and projection of conflicts. Thus, through the medium of art, a message of thoughts and feelings unfolds, linking the unconscious with conscious. Nine patients with different psychiatric diagnoses were exposed in directive and non-directive projections to four different art forms clay, collages, painting and writing. Examination of their creations revealed useful diagnostic features of thought and affect, organisations, defensive structure, sense of self with respect to identity, object relations and conflicts. It was also possible through art, to follow patients' well-being as they returned to reality, order and harmony. Art creation therapy is a useful diagnostic and treatment tool for mentally ill patients. We recommend its use (AU)