A qualitative single-case study: the role of art therapy in facilitating an authentic sense for a male adolescent who expresses himself in gender-variant ways

Children and adolescents who display gender-variant traits face a number of challenges, one of it being that they may be struggling with suppressing or expressing their gender identity (Thomas, 2011). The purpose of this study is to determine whether art therapy can facilitate an authentic sense of self for a young, male adolescent who expresses himself in gender-variant ways. Donald Winnicott’s concepts of true self and fase self were used to enlighten the understanding of this single case-study. The findings will be presented through a discussion of art therapy with my client, Siva, a 14-year-old male adolescent studying in a mainstream secondary school. For the purpose of confidentiality, I have used a pseudonym to address my client. Art therapy was offered in my capacity as a final year art therapy trainee.
By examining the process of art therapy through several identified phases, the research concludes that art therapy is able to facilitate an authentic sense of self for a male adolescent who expresses himself in gender-variant ways. When Siva’s narratives were being acknowledged and heard with non-judgmental acceptance, it allowed him to externalize some difficult feelings and for a sense of feeling real to emerge. The safe, holding environment in art therapy also facilitated the opportunity for his authentic self to be expressed and validated. By experiencing the freedom for creative expressions in a safe, containing space, he was able to use art to give form to his identity. Recommended techniques and strategies on how to work effectively with this client population have also been suggested.