The photography as a catalyst in psychotherapy.

This paper focuses upon the use of photographers as a projective method enabling the patient and therapist to more readily explore transferential feelings, penetrate resistance, work through conflicts, and mobilize affect. The photographs are ambiguous and abstract but have a semblance of reality. They are unstructured, which by design permits interpretation. The patient can project upon the photograph his way of seeing life, his meanings, significances, patterns, relationships, and especially feelings. I am using the photographic images of the primary purpose of therapeutics in contrast to an emphasis on diagnostic usage. What is important is the dialogue and thematic content that follows from the response. The catalytic use of photographs is an alternate strategy to explore the unconscious. It helps the patient verbalize, recognize feelings, fantasize and often to realize an untrapped storehouse of imagination and/or creative potential. Finally, this method allows the patient to become more aware of his/her unique perception of the world. "The Photograph As A catalyst in Psychotherapy" should not be viewed as a strategy in and of itself, but rather should be utilized as an integral part of the psychotherapeutic process.