[Model creation in art therapy. A sculpture project at a psychiatric clinic]

Therapeutic modelling has found little attention in the literature. For the first time, the present article reports about sculptural work in psychiatric art therapy. Since 1994 the Psychiatric Hospital Kilchberg/Zürich is carrying out a sculpture project, in which about 30 patients work with sand- or limestone for 2 1/2 hours daily, cared for by eight therapists and protected by detailed safety regulations. At the beginning and the end of each afternoon the patients stand in a circle to communicate inner mood and ideas about the work. An exposition at the end of the project gives the opportunity to demonstrate the sculptures to family, friends and clinical staff. Until now there have been only positive experiences, which speak in favour of a wider use of sculpture in psychiatric art therapy. Sculptural work stimulates the vitality of the patients, who are challenged to use their willpower adaptedly and rhythmically. Especially on patients with autodestructive tendencies sculptural work seems to exert a beneficial influence.