An 18-year-old with a history of drug use and abuse draws a figure being eaten by a large circular head with sharp teeth. What should the therapist do first?

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Multiple Choice

An 18-year-old with a history of drug use and abuse draws a figure being eaten by a large circular head with sharp teeth. What should the therapist do first?

In art therapy, the first move with a powerful or symbolic image is to invite the client to explore its associations. This means asking open-ended questions about what the drawing brings to mind, what feelings arise, and what personal memories or experiences it touches. For this image, the client might uncover meanings like threats, control, vulnerability, or conflict related to their experiences with drug use or abuse. Letting the client articulate what the drawing represents respects their agency and helps prevent the therapist from imposing meanings onto the artwork. It also provides important insight into their current emotional state and can flag safety concerns if needed. After the client has voiced associations, the therapist can move toward interpretation if the client is ready, but not before the client has had a chance to explain their own perspective. Skipping straight to interpretation, ending the session, or switching to a non-threatening image would sidestep the client’s current experience and hinder therapeutic progress.

In art therapy, the first move with a powerful or symbolic image is to invite the client to explore its associations. This means asking open-ended questions about what the drawing brings to mind, what feelings arise, and what personal memories or experiences it touches. For this image, the client might uncover meanings like threats, control, vulnerability, or conflict related to their experiences with drug use or abuse. Letting the client articulate what the drawing represents respects their agency and helps prevent the therapist from imposing meanings onto the artwork. It also provides important insight into their current emotional state and can flag safety concerns if needed. After the client has voiced associations, the therapist can move toward interpretation if the client is ready, but not before the client has had a chance to explain their own perspective. Skipping straight to interpretation, ending the session, or switching to a non-threatening image would sidestep the client’s current experience and hinder therapeutic progress.

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