ABSTRACT

Background

This paper explores how making art alongside clients supported a relational intersectional approach and aided the development of an attuned therapeutic relationship with Matthieu (pseudonym), a Black-British autistic adolescent who experienced domestic violence.

Context

The art therapy intervention took place at a Special Educational Needs (SEN) secondary school. Authenticity and capacity for consent were carefully considered not to compromise safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship. Consent was given via Matthieu’s primary caregiver: this was in line with the therapy organisation’s confidentiality framework.

Approach

A relational intersectional approach examines the impacts of domestic abuse, structural violence, autism, and race in the therapeutic alliance to illuminate how chronic experiences of systemic harm and domestic violence may weigh on a black autistic young boy.

Making art with clients, also termed ‘Working alongside’, has been shown to support mentalising process, attunement and support relationship building with autistic young people.

Outcomes

The therapeutic relationship became accessible, and a shared racial identity encounter strengthened therapeutic rapport.

Conclusions

Working alongside supported a relational intersectional approach and was pivotal to Matthieu’s engagement in art therapy.

Implications for research

Art therapy literature exploring the impact of shared ethnicity in the therapeutic encounter is an area needing further research.

Plain-language Summary

Therapist images made during a session with their client are generally termed ‘working alongside’.

Working alongside can encourage empathy, understanding and relationship-building with autistic young people with complex social-emotional needs and histories of domestic abuse.

This practice paper highlights a journey of working alongside in art therapy practice with Matthieu, a Black-British autistic adolescent who had experienced domestic violence.

A sensitive social, cultural, and political analysis aims to explore the intersection of race, gender and ability by enhancing discussions around the impact of shared racial identity on the therapeutic relationship.

中文翻译：

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“你是黑人，我是黑人”：艺术治疗、种族、自闭症和家庭虐待

摘要

背景

本文探讨了与客户一起创作艺术如何支持关系交叉方法，并帮助与经历过家庭暴力的英国黑人自闭症青少年马蒂厄（化名）建立协调的治疗关系。

语境

艺术治疗干预在一所特殊教育需要（SEN）中学进行。仔细考虑了同意的真实性和能力，以免损害治疗关系的安全性和信任。征得马蒂厄主要护理人员的同意：这符合治疗组织的保密框架。

方法

关系交叉方法研究了治疗联盟中家庭虐待、结构性暴力、自闭症和种族的影响，以阐明系统性伤害和家庭暴力的长期经历可能对黑人自闭症小男孩产生怎样的影响。

与客户一起创作艺术，也称为“一起工作”，已被证明可以支持心智化过程、协调并支持与自闭症年轻人建立关系。

结果

治疗关系变得平易近人，共同的种族身份遭遇也加强了治疗关系。

结论

并肩工作支持了一种关系交叉方法，并且对于马蒂厄参与艺术治疗至关重要。

对研究的影响

艺术治疗文献探讨了共同种族在治疗遭遇中的影响，这是一个需要进一步研究的领域。

通俗易懂的语言总结

治疗师在与客户会面时拍摄的图像通常被称为“一起工作”。

一起工作可以鼓励与具有复杂社会情感需求和家庭虐待历史的自闭症年轻人建立同理心、理解和建立关系。

这篇练习论文重点介绍了与经历过家庭暴力的英国黑人自闭症青少年马蒂厄一起进行艺术治疗实践的旅程。

敏感的社会、文化和政治分析旨在通过加强围绕共同种族身份对治疗关系的影响的讨论来探索种族、性别和能力的交叉点。