טיפול באמנות אורית אלקלעי

Processing and Sharing in the Art

A THESIS BY ORIT ALKALAY

HOW ART EXPRESSION FACILITATES IN THE PROCESSING AND SHARING OF CO-THERAPISTS’ WORKING WITH GROUPS

Abstract

The aim of this research is to explore how art and the art-making process can be used as tools to deepen the processing and sharing between co-therapists working with groups.  Researchers disagree on the benefits of co-therapy, but agree that working in a couple is complex and holds risks, and can be beneficial provided that both therapists are able to contain their anxiety and work out their difficulties in a cooperative way (Yalom, 1995, Dugo & Beck 1984).   In this research the art processes and its product enabled the co-therapists to explore their relationships from multi-layered dynamic perspectives and investigate issues of self, other, co-therapy relationship and group dynamic processes as part of supervision and self-supervision.    

This study integrates five parallel dynamic approaches: The art therapy lens, co-therapy developmental perspectives, group developmental theories, supervision approaches and art-based research as a method, using case studies conducted for this purpose. The results of this examination reveal far greater potential for co-therapy then previous studies suggest.

To read more … Cotherapy-Thesis.pdf