[Drawings and art work in systemic family therapy]

As in most other forms of psychotherapy, creative media are an essential ingredient of systemic therapy with children, adolescents and their families. Therapists cannot rely solely on verbal interventions but rather have to utilize the natural tendency of children to express themselves through drawings and art. The therapeutic functions of creative expression in systemic therapy are being discussed. An overview of a variety of techniques with case examples is given that illustrates the many forms and uses of creative techniques in systemic family therapy.