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Art and Imagery in Adult Psychoanalysis

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Theoretical and Clinical Applications

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Abstract

The work described in this paper emerged from the experiences of the author, an art therapist in classical psychoanalytic training for the past decade. In her own analysis, and in her work with adult and child patients, she found both artistic and mental imagery to be generally useful in the analytic process, whether coming from the patient or experienced by the analyst. It was therefore a surprise to find articles in the analytic literature which emphasized the resistant nature of visual imagery, tending to deny or minimize its potential as an alternative mode of communication (Kanzer, 1958; Kern, 1975; Ross & Kapp, 1962). Despite evidence of a more positive attitude on the part of others (Kubie, 1943; Lewin, 1968; Warren, 1961), there was indeed “a persisting ambivalence about imagination in psychoanalysis “ (Singer, 1981–82, p. 11).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Judith A. Rubin (Assistant Professor)

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  1. Judith A. Rubin
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. American Association for the Study of Mental Imagery, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Joseph E. Shorr , Gail Sobel-Whittington , Pennee Robin  & Jack A. Connella , ,  & 

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Rubin, J.A. (1983). Art and Imagery in Adult Psychoanalysis. In: Shorr, J.E., Sobel-Whittington, G., Robin, P., Connella, J.A. (eds) Theoretical and Clinical Applications. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1179-9_32

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