Schaverien painstakingly describes and defines processes which have so
far only been intuitively known to art therapists (p6) by introducing
and elaborating the psychoanalytical concepts of transference and
countertransference in relation to the use of visual art objects. The
authors stated intention in this book is to attempt to bridge the
perceived gap between the practice of art therapy and analytical forms
of psychotherapy...(p 229) The epistemological base of this venture
includes the fields of philosophy, anthropology, and aesthetics, as well
as psychoanalysis.
Schaverien suggests that analytical art psychotherapy is a way of
working analytically with patients who are unsuitable, or unready, for
psychotherapy, giving examples of psychotic and borderline patients,
children, and patients in psychiatric settings.
This is primarily a book about an analytical approach within art
therapy, which may be of interest in itself. The material also raises
issues of interest to analysts and psychotherapists, whether or not they
work with art in the clinical setting. The book clarifies areas of
similarity between the disciplines, and also makes areas of difference
apparent. For example, most analysts would agree that visual art, like
dream material, and other non-verbal representations of the inner world,
can at times articulate and communicate meanings which for one reason or
another cannot be verbally articulated at the time, and that this can be
pertinent to the aim of analysis. However, I think few analysts would
include facilities in their consulting rooms for the kind of art
processes described in the book.
When the analyst is working with materials in this form, the book will
be extremely helpful in sorting out the complexity of the transference
situation and the role of interpretation. The book is so strongly
grounded in experiences emerging in the presence of actual art processes
and objects that I think it will be of most interest to those who are
interested in the specific clinical issues involved in relating to the
making and use of actual art objects within the setting. Schaverien not
only describes the processes involved in detail, but also presents
technical approaches to the making and handling of art objects within
the setting which will inform the capacity of those who are not trained
as art therapists to relate to this kind of material in the consulting
room.'
