Drawing (myself)

Abstract

Is it possible for us to evaluate a process of child analysis by means of analyzing the child’s drawings all long the sessions?
Skirting this question, the paper discusses the concept of drawing, its history and its connection with the technique of child analysis, from a theoretical perspective. The contributions by Bion, Meltzer, Levin and Antonino Ferro will be considered.
These concepts will be articulated with the case material of Enrique (aged nine) referred by his psychiatrist with a diagnosis of psychosis, based on the presence of delusions and hallucinations, which proved resistant to
medication. Different issues progressively emerged during his analysis (three sessions a week during three years): his representation of his family, his fears, his relationship with his parents and his peers, his effort to adapt to the
external world (his school, recreation and sports activities). The central line of work with him was the flaws in his psychic structure observed in the way through which he tried to work through separations. The paper will focus on the work of analysis of four drawings of the family (performed during the diagnostic process and after six, twenty, and thirty five months of treatment). They show a progress in Enrique that starts from lifeless bidimensional figures, goes through a period of tridimensional productions and the expression of traumatic sensations in order to reach the representation of an extended and colorful family. The
process of symbolization is brought to light. Perhaps these drawings can account for Enrique’s psychic journey during his treatment; by progressively drawing himself, drawing his experiences and in his transference with the analyst, where he provides with information for the analytic process to gradually develop. Thus, the staging of a mental game outlines parts of a child’s internal world and expresses the psychic processes of children like Enrique, who, by drawing, is drawing himself.