Attitudes towards a counselee and methods of a counseling significantly vary by each counselor based on their individual characteristics and theories preferred by each counselor. However, there are a few common denominators in a general counseling ses...
Attitudes towards a counselee and methods of a counseling significantly vary by each counselor based on their individual characteristics and theories preferred by each counselor. However, there are a few common denominators in a general counseling session. First, even if a counselor tries to adopt a counselee-centered attitude during the counseling session, a counselee is more likely to be reserved in talking than a counselor due to the very nature of the counseling. Moreover, even if a counselee comes to see a counselor in order to solve his/her problems, the counselee is reluctant to candidly express oneself without reservation. The language is a medium for the counseling, but the counselee feels uncomfortable to 'talk' to the counselor. Such difficulties in a counseling session agonize both the counselor and counselee and hinder them from being effective and consistent during the counseling.
The purpose of this study was to improve and resolve such restrictions in the counseling session. Art therapy as a 'transitional area', which is a concept of D. Winnicott, was examined in this study, for it satisfies both the counselor and counselee. Regarding the transitional area, following works were mainly used as a reference material for this study ; D. Winnicott's <Play and Reality>, <Deprivation and Delinquency>, <The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment>, <Therapeutic Consultations in Child Psychiatry>, and a book co-authored by Madeleine Davis and David Wallbrige, <Boundary and Space>. Regarding the art therapy, various works and existing theses on art therapy were used for this study.
Necessities, purposes, methods and restrictions of this study were examined in chapter Ⅰ. Development of transitional object and transitional phenomena, transitional area, and expanded transitional area were examined and summarized in chapter Ⅱ. Art therapy as an expanded transitional area, characteristics of art therapy, methods that can be applied as expanded transitional area, and effects of art therapy applied as expanded transitional area were examined in chapter Ⅲ. Art therapy programs that can be applied to a group such as art therapy programs for children, for adolescents & university students, and for mothers were examined and listed in chapter Ⅳ. Finally, a conclusion was made in chapter Ⅴ.
As a result of this study, it was found out that active self-expression through art as a medium, which is a part of the transitional area, enables children to realize one's true-self, the youth to reinforce one's identify and self-respect, and mothers to experience satisfaction. Furthermore, it was suggested that active self-expression through art is a desirable solution to provide satisfactory experience for a counselee in a counseling session.