Art therapy as a complementary therapy in the treatment of depression: a case study

🇬🇧: Art therapy as a complementary therapy in the treatment of depression: a case study

🇪🇸: La arte terapia como terapia complementaria en el tratamiento de la depresión: estudio de un caso

Abstract

This article refers to the case of a 27 year old female diagnosed with depression, whose treatment included Jungian Therapy with Transpersonal Art Therapy as a complement. The Art Therapy consisted of working with mandalas, visualization practices, energy therapy, and attending the Creativity and the Brain course. During the mandala sessions, the archetype of the Great Mother represented by the African goddess figure of Iemanjá was used as a focal point. Soothing music was played in the background during every therapy session. Physical hugging upon the client’s arrival and departure was also considered part of the therapy. Because this young woman experienced significant recovery in a short period of time, Art Therapy is indicated as an important component in the treatment plan of patients suffering from depression.

Resumen

Este artículo relata el caso de M.S., mujer de 27 años, médico residente diagnosticada por depresión, cuyo tratamiento consistió en terapia jungiana y arte terapia transpersonal como terapia complementaria. La arte terapia de M.S. consistió en trabajos con mandalas, prácticas de visualización y terapia energética, a la vez que asistiendo al curso “Cerebro y Creatividad”. Durante las sesiones con mandalas, se usó como punto focal un arquetipo expresivo de la Gran Madre, representado por la figura de la diosa Iemanjá. Durante todas las sesiones sonó una música relajante de fondo. Un abrazo de bienvenida y otro de despedida formaba parte de la terapia. A la luz de la significante recuperación que esta joven mujer obtuvo en un breve periodo de tiempo, consideramos la Arte Terapia como una posibilidad en el tratamiento de pacientes depresivos.

🇬🇧: Complementary Therapy, Mandala, Art Therapy, Archetypes

🇪🇸: Terapia complementaria, Mandala, Arte Terapia, Arquetipos

Carneiro, C. (2010). Art therapy as a complementary therapy in the treatment of depression: A case study. Journal of Transpersonal Research, 2(1), 62-72