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ªï∑’Ë ¯ ©∫—∫∑’Ë Ò ¡°√“§¡-‡¡…“¬π ÚııÛ Vol. 8 No. 1 January-April 2010
Original Article
Art Therapy and Young Offenders

Kirsty McTaggart*

Abstract
This article is a short review of art therapy for adolescents who have presented with offending behaviour
and how this modality can assist vulnerable youth. The article describes in brief a case that was managed in
the context of an art therapy service within the UK National Health Service, Child and Adolescent Mental
Health. It touches on anger, acting out, difficult behaviour, the impact of early experience and how art therapy
can help young people to regain self-esteem and explore relationship skills, among other benefits, thus reduc-
ing the likelihood of delinquent behaviour and improving their conduct.
Key words: serious and multiple stressors, anger, attachment, delinquency, self-esteem, art therapy

Background now priorities. In the UK people have become in-
The professional field of art therapy has been creasingly disillusioned with prison as a means of
1
growing in the United Kingdom and United States of reforming people, particularly young vulnerable youth.
America for many years where, after a rigorous Research suggests that as much as 25 per cent of the
masterûs training program, art therapists work as part teenage population in the UK are engaged in some
2
of clinical teams in mental health services, commu- criminal activity. Offending/delinquent behaviours
nity services, schools, prisons and hospitals (among can take the form of drug and alcohol abuse, poor
others), working with a variety of individuals from school performance, aggressive behaviour or acts of
children to adults and families. crime, theft, violence, vandalism, and damage to prop-
The context of the work described is within a erty.
UK-based system where changes in attitudes toward Risk factors to the likelihood of committing a
young offenders (delinquents) places emphasis on crime or offending behaviour

staying within the community (rather than being in- Early experience- Research has shown that emo-
carcerated); thus, reformation and rehabilitation are tional attachment is an essential part of brain deve-
lopment and that good attachment takes place when
*Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the newborn child has a responsive and affectionate

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