Creative Expression as Transitional Object: Bridging Personal-Professional Identity

The authors share their observations on the implications of concepts originated in object relations theory in art therapy students' and clinicians' identity development. Through the lens of object relations theory, students considered how the personal informs the professional, as reflected in assemblage and artwork inspired by personal or found objects. Through their own creative expression, students learned how to apply object relations theory beyond its original formulation, and how their artwork acts as a transitional object between their personal history and professional individuation. The authors explore how creative expression may serve as a bridge between these two aspects of the self, thus facilitating an educated and creatively informed personal/professional integration in the process of clinical training and practice.