Integrating community art therapy with psychoanalysis

Abstract

Community art therapy and art psychotherapy are often seen as opposing approaches. Psychoanalytic work traditionally focuses on the internal world of the individual and the ways in which these impacts on the outside world - behaviour, perceptions, reactions and, understanding. In contrast, community work is considered socially engaged work with a focus on the collective, society, and culture with their impact on the individual or group. These two aspects may be difficult to reconcile but a purposeful combination of both can promote an integrative and holistic reconciliation of art therapy. In this paper, the authors discuss three aspects of community art therapy that resonate with contemporary psychodynamic concepts. The primacy of the therapeutic relationship (psychotherapy) pertains to belonging (community), insight oriented approach (psychotherapy) to responsiveness to participant goals (community) and work with the unconscious as in the collective shadow (psychodynamic) as related to social awareness of systemic barriers (community). As demonstrated in case examples, one in South Africa and the other in the United States, art therapists can overcome historic dichotomies to meet contemporary needs.