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Drawing out resistance: The use of the house-tree-person test to facilitate communication in verbal therapy groups

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Abstract

Resistance as an impediment in both individual and group therapy is discussed, and the special resistances common to groups are described through a review of the literature. An adaptation of John Buck's House-Tree-Person projective test is suggested as a method for overcoming resistance that can be used by group therapists, including those unfamiliar with art therapy techniques. Case examples are presented of a group session in which resistance is a prominent deterrent to progress and another in which the use of the projective drawing technique facilitates the dissolution of resistance.

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Ramirez, C. Drawing out resistance: The use of the house-tree-person test to facilitate communication in verbal therapy groups. Group 7, 39–49 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456471

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01456471

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