CASE STUDY of Emma

Emma 40, is a full time mom with a young child. She enrolls to art therapy because of stress and fatigue. Her body is stiff and she has trouble with sleep too. Her marriage is going through difficult times.

with special thanks to Maj-len Radmans

Session 1

Emma 40, is a full time mom with a young child. She enrolls to art therapy because of the stress and fatigue she goes through. Her body is stiff and she has trouble with sleep too. Her marriage is going through difficult times.



Painting of Emma. A woman in the middle. Two hands spread towards her, one on the left and one of the right. Her head is inside a large red heart that looks penetrated by zig-zag black lines. The ground below her is curved as if hollow.

"Anxious and sad, frightened, alone, hurt and angry."

Session 5

At the beginning of our work, Emma was reserved, sad and weak. She needed a safe and calm place to think and rest. For a few sessions she drew without speaking.

In her own words: "A place of reflection and rest."




























Emma's painting with watercolor illustrates an empty still boat with a paddle in the middle of a blue lake surrounded by green and trees.

Session 7

We worked with her emotions, her fears and her dreams, her defense mechanisms, and the reactions of her body often through given themes.

Emma's drawing. Illustrates a woman in the middle of the picture being surrounded by people. zig-zag black lines around and towards her.

"What if I get angry?"

Session 8

We discovered the symbolism of images and the several layers of meanings from the past and in the present.

"A dream I dreamt many times..."























This painting with pastel illustrates a standing blonde woman with rose top and yellow skirt. The woman is holding hands with a kneeling child in orange top and blue trousers. The child is crying.

Session 22

Over the time, Emma felt confortable expressing and sharing emotions. She got to know herself better, she felt more confident and started making small changes in her everyday life.

Emma's painting with crayon. A shadow protected inbetween a man and a girl holding hands.

"A little closer..."

Session 30

Emma is closer to her husband and started to enjoy life more!

In her own words: "I can go out in the work and sing aloud when the wind blows in my hair..."




















Painting with pastel which illustrates a woman with green top and rose trousers on her bike. The woman sings loud, a blue air wave coming out of her mouth. Her hair is blowing in the air.