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low. The structure was related to clients’ balance; based on one art product, art therapists were able to estimate the client’s balance. Art therapists preferred to observe at least three art products to observe if each art products had similar amounts of structure over time. If the structure of the art products did not change over time, their initial estimation of clients’ balance was confirmed. The art therapists assumed that art products with clear high or low structure indicated that the client was more out of balance. Three general patterns could be recognized; (1) highly structured art products were related to much “thought” and less “feeling”, (2) low structured art products were related to more “feeling” and less “thought” and (3) art products that alternated between high and low structure were related to much “thought” and much “feeling”.
Variation and adaptability
Art therapists observed the amount of variation of the art product, which they related to “adaptability”. Variation was associated with experimentation, exploration, playfulness, taking risks, and discovery (see Table 1). These aspects were related to openness, self-management, flexibility and creativity; the categories of adaptability. Generally, more variation was related to more adaptability until a “turning point”. This means that art therapists assumed an “optimum” amount of variation; absent or limited variation as well as over- presence of variation was related to limited adaptability. Art therapists stressed their preference to observe at least three art products to observe variation within art products over time. Art therapists assumed that art products with limited or no variation over time indicated less adaptability. Variation over several art products indicated openness, willingness to learn and adapt. If variation was present over different art products art therapists were more optimistic about clients’ prognosis, as they associated adaptability with potential to change in therapy.
Balance, adaptability and further treatment
The aim of treatment was to restore or develop balance between “thought” and “feeling” and to enhance adaptability. The art therapists in this study formulated the focus of treatment mainly on the estimated balance and potential adaptability. The focus of treatment directed the choice for art
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