The Phenomenological Approach to Art Therapy

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Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer 2004 ( CThe present paper discusses the phenomenological approach to art-therapy and

suggests an operational terminology for its main theoretical concepts. First we

present the general assumptions that underline art therapy. Definitions, leading

approaches, and the therapeutic effect of artwork are considered. Next we indicate

the need for relevant and particular theories of art therapy. Phenomenological

theory is examined as a case in point because of its popularity among art therapists. Despite its philosophical appeal, however, we find phenomenological theory

lacking the operational terminology that is essential to form a coherent and distinct school of therapy. In the present paper, we extract from phenomenological

theory operational principles, which can be followed and applied by art therapists.

In this analysis, we take into consideration Betenskys pioneer attempt to create

the bridge between phenomenological theory as applied in verbal psychotherapy

and art therapy. We end by discussing the urgent need to operationalize other verbal psychotherapeutic theories so they are relevant for art-therapy practice and

may help create greater similarities among art therapists of the same school of

psychotherapy.KEY WORDS: phenomenological approach; art therapy.Art therapy is a human service profession that utilizes art media, images, the

creative art process, and patient/client responses to the created productions as reflections of an individuals development, abilities, personality, interests, concerns,

and conflicts (Rubin, 1998).By its nature, this definition presents only the very essence of art therapy,

namely its unique way of blending art and therapy. One of the common definitions

of art is: products of creative work; paintings statues, etc. One of the common

definitions for psychotherapy is: the treatment of mental disorder or personal difficulties by any of various means including communication between a trainedAddress correspondence to Dr. Joseph Guttman, Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, 31905

Haifa, Israel; e-mail: [email protected] 2004)The Phenomenological Approach to Art TherapyJoseph Guttmann and Dafna Regev0022-0116/04/0300-0153/0 C 2004 Human Sciences Press, Inc.154 Guttmann and Regevperson and the patient. The difficulties defining the particular ways of combining

art and therapy to form art-therapy created the difficulties defining the profession.

These definitions were summarized by Ulman (1975), who concluded that the only

common component in all the various practices of art therapists is that patients

artwork serves as...