Art psychotherapy evaluations of children in custody disputes

Journal/Book: Arts in Psychotherapy. 1993; 20: 153-159.

Abstract: Explores the role and advantages of art therapy in the evaluation of children who are involved in custody litigation. Art is a modality that children are more comfortable with than talking, and children's conflicts and feelings are often displaced into artwork. Parents are asked to draw with their children because their artwork is less defended, and they cannot prepare verbal answers ahead of time. In each of 2 sessions, family members are asked to draw the same pictures and in the same order. This gives a means of comparison between the artwork produced with each parent. How the family members engage each other verbally and graphically during the session is indicative of how the family works in everyday situations. Drawing techniques include free drawings, kinetic family drawings, and dot-to-dot drawings. The stress and anxiety experienced by the children due to the family breakup are reflected in their artwork.

Note: role & advantages of art therapy in evaluation of children involved in custody litigation; children & their parents

Keyword(s): Art therapy; child custody; legal processes; parents

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