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partial neutralization of drive energies. In the arts, ity encourages clients to let go, confront ascending
sublimation involves creating a deliberate, socially impulses, and visually contain them through genuine
productive, and formed symbolic equivalent for an symbolic representations. Clients encouraged to re-
instinctual urge rather than acting out the urge in an lax their inner critic and art therapists must provide

asocial manner. Key to understanding the process of permission for disordered, partial, or even chaotic art-
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sublimation is a consideration of the compromise work. Process is continually emphasized in relation
reached between acting out and symbolically config- to the emerging product. Process cannot be sepa-
uring an impulse, while maintaining an honest rela- rated from product; the art therapist maintains inter-
tionship with the initial strong emotions stimulating est in both parts of this often divided dialectic.
the urge. As a result of ongoing exposure to such Working with symbolic visual equivalencies of
powerful emotions, which becomes the content of traumas permits the client to revisit and redefine ex-

the artwork, this journey necessitates inner resourcing periences, discovering unknown inner resources and
to prevent the possibility of decomposition. As the a capacity to heal. Sublimation is a transformative
ego precariously suspends its control in order to process in which one must lose a little control to find
enable the creative process to unfold, it must also the inner resources necessary for the discovery of
simultaneously regulate this regressive pull when con- autonomy, identity, ego strength, and resiliency. With
fronted with the challenge of channeling urges into a trained third hand or auxiliary ego, art therapists
formed visual expressions. In some instances, in or- guide and support clientsû sublimated visual expres-
der to permit fulfillment of the creative process, the sions. Sublimation is an integrative act; clients learn
ego must regulate itself by suspending degrees of to assimilate their emotional, imaginative, cognitive,
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control when potentially flooded and therefore con- and perceptual faculties to achieve sublimation.
fronted with the challenge of channeling urges into Within the miraculous act of artistic sublimation
formed visual expressions. Ultimately, sublimation is clientsû fragmented selves can be experienced as uni-
a victory for the ego and society since powerful im- fied statements of personal truth thus allowing for
pulsive urges have been transformed into art rather the healing process to unfold.
than acted out in a socially harmful manner.
Conclusion
During the sublimation process, art therapists

function as auxiliary egos, or using a term that Through the art process, new samples of pro-
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Kramer coined, as a çthird hand,é loaning their in- ductive behavior can be learned, rehearsed, and ac-
ner resources necessary to achieve visual sublima- tualized. These behaviors consist of an increased ca-
tion. Kramer described the art therapistûs third hand pacity for decision-making, tolerating impulses and
as the utilization of artistic competence and imagina- frustrations, delaying gratification, and confronting a
tion to compassionately serve others in the least in- conflict head on in order to immerse oneself, through
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trusive and restrictive way. Art therapists must art, in the struggle at hand.
assist in the creative process without distorting their Historically, art has served to resolve conflicts
clientûs original intentions. First, art therapists learn between powerful primitive urges and the divergent

to respect and validate the distinct visual language demands of reality. The pleasure derived from subli-
of each client; their personal style must not be impli- mation replaces the satisfaction gained from more
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cated in the clientûs creative processing. primal forms of impulse gratification. Art has the
Second, art therapists promote spontaneity and capacity to evoke powerful feelings within an imagi-
act as guardians of the resultant imagery. Spontane- nal reality separate from the perceptual realm. Thus,