Helping to Make Them See: Viewing the Work of Erik H. Erikson As a Valuable Resource to the Field of Art Therapy

The profession of art therapy was influenced and developed by figures in the fields of art education, visual art, and psychoanalysis. Erik H. Erikson is a figure who was trained in all three of these areas; yet it seems that contemporary art therapists are unaware of how valuable his life story and written contributions are to the field of art therapy. This work explores the historical context surrounding the life of Erikson, his training in various fields, his difficult experience trying to choose an identity between artist and psychoanalyst, and the written works that he contributed later in his life. As well, Joan Erikson's influence on his work has been examined. Erin Kuri's research demonstrates that Erikson's training and experiential knowledge in visual art influenced his clinical observations and written works throughout his life. By examining the ways in which he perceived his work through the eyes of an artist, current art therapists may be inspired to view his life work as an invaluable resource for the study and practice of art therapy.