| Abstract [eng] |
This case study explores how a therapeutic relationship is formed in art therapy with a six-year-old child diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, highlighting its role in providing emotional security in child psychotherapy. Anxiety disorders have become increasingly common in children, often emerging before school age. For those who struggle to express emotions verbally, traditional talk therapy may be limiting. In contrast, art therapy offers a relational space through creative expression, sensory engagement, and symbolic communication. The triangular relationship between child, therapist, and art medium enables safe and meaningful self-expression. The study aims to explore how a therapeutic relationship develops through a child’s interaction with art materials, the creative process, and the resulting artwork. This qualitative case study focuses on the process of relationship-building. The research objectives are: (1) to analyze the concept of the therapeutic relationship in child psychotherapy and art therapy; (2) to review the expression of anxiety in childhood; and (3) to examine the dynamics of relationship formation through artistic interaction. The study was conducted in a preschool setting between October 2022 and June 2023, during 29 weekly sessions. Data were collected through drawings, observation notes, audio recordings, and educator reflections. Analysis was based on the AT-WAI model (material interaction), the ArAT action table (process observation), and the ETC model (creative expression). Data were triangulated and the CaSE tool was used to ensure quality. Findings show that the relationship evolved through shared creative presence, enabling the child to explore, express emotions, and gradually engage. A non-directive environment fostered autonomy and safety, while the Creative level of the ETC model helped integrate sensory, emotional, and symbolic experiences. Artistic development reflected a gradual shift from fragmentation to connection, from emotional closure to relational openness. |
