Heraldic art as a supplement to individual psychotherapy

Abstract

This paper describes the use of a technique termed “heraldic art therapy”. The approach to treatment was utilized in conjunction with individual psychotherapy in the treatment of mild to moderately disturbed patients having difficulty establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships and group affiliations. Seventeen patients in an outpatient mental health clinic were selected for participation in the weekly heraldic art therapy group. Fourteen members remained in the group for 15 months and three members withdrew from the group rather early. The paper highlights the major group emphasis and assignments, as well as the direction and course of one patient's response to treatment. It was concluded that the dual treatment design appeared to be remarkably helpful to the patients in addressing and reducing problems in individual and group functioning.