Exploring The Use Of Picture Books, Other Stories, And Art Therapy With Children

The use of story and art therapy with children in treatment is explored in two case studies. Stories used as interventions for the participants include picture book stories and self- generated narratives. The study’s participants also created art responses that took forms as illustrations and self made books. Research questions that were investigated were: When children receiving art therapy engage with stories created by others, how did they respond? ; When children receiving art therapy create their own stories, how did they respond? ; What themes emerge in the art? Main subjects of the study were clients ages 6 and 8 receiving individual and family services from the therapist’s agency at The Whole Child. A case study approach was used to highlight themes and identify psychologically meaningful content in existing picture books for both participants. Biographical data and also responses to interventions were recorded in assessment and progress notes. Based on the results, the therapist found using picture books as interventions in therapy created a safe space where it helped clients to open up about personal feelings or situations that would be difficult to express or even discover on their own.