For an art therapy client in hospice who verbalizes little about himself or his artwork, what is an appropriate goal?

• A. Increasing his artistic technique
• B. Documenting his symptoms
• C. Supporting the client in expressing his needs and feelings to others
• D. Fostering independent decision making

Answer: (C)

In hospice art therapy, when a client speaks little about himself or his art, the goal shifts to helping him communicate his needs and feelings to others through the artistic process. Art can surface emotions and requests nonverbally, offering a bridge to caregivers, family, and clinicians. By inviting simple imagery, color choices, or symbolic marks, the therapist supports the client in expressing what he finds hard to say aloud, fostering understanding, connection, and a sense of being cared for. This relational, communication-focused aim is especially important when verbal expression is limited, because it helps reduce isolation and ensures the client’s inner experience informs care.

Increasing artistic technique emphasizes skill development rather than emotional or relational expression, which is less aligned with the immediate needs of a client who is not verbally expressing themselves. Documenting symptoms is typically a medical or nursing task, not the central therapeutic goal of art therapy. Fostering independent decision making is valuable, but with limited verbal expression, the priority is enabling communication of needs and feelings to others, which lays the groundwork for autonomy as the relationship and expression evolve.