”˜You Don’t Know Anything About Us!’ An Art Psychotherapy Group for Adolescent Girls

Abstract

This paper describes the origins and development of an art psychotherapy group for adolescent girls aged 12-16. The presentation outlines the theoretical framework and working model of the group within the overarching setting of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) The images track the developmental challenges of adolescence and the intra-psychic conflicts of the different members of the group. Progress and recovery are also demonstrated and shown in the images. It is suggested that these changes happened over time within the long term group leading to reduction in self harm and other extreme behaviour. Enabling the girls to move on in managing their lives.

Keywords: art psychotherapy, adolescent, groups, images, intensive psychological treatment, containment, CAMHS