본고는 문학치료학의 토대를 견고히 하고, 문학의 치료적 기능에 대한 실제적 확증으로 현재까지 문학치료 임상연구의 현황과 그에 대한 앞으로의 전망에 대해 살펴보는 것을 목적으로 논의를 진행하였다. 문학치료 임상연구에 대한 현황을 이론적 성립에 기초하여 정리하면 다음과 같다. ① 서사 개념 도입 전후 단계 : 이 시기에는 아직 구체적인 문학치료 이론이 성립되지 않았기 때문에 고전문학 작품에 대한 문학치료적 가능성을 모색하려는 연구경향을 보였다. 그 후 2003년을 기점으로 ‘서사(敍事, epic)’의 개념이 도입되면서 이를 바탕으로 한 연구가 시작되었다. 이때의 임상연구의 특징은 진단시약으로 사용할 고전작품에 대한 분석을 한 후 작품 감상을 통한 반응을 살펴 어떤 양상을 보이고 있는 지 검토하는 수준이었다. ② 자기서사, 작품서사 생성 단계 : 이 시기에는 자기서사와 작품서사라는 개념이 확립되었고, 비로소 임상연구가 활기를 띤 시점이다. 이때의 임상연구 경향은 작품서사를 통해 자기서사를 진단하는 지점까지 이루어졌다. 이를 위한 방법으로는 대다수가 문학작품 감상을 통한 독후감(감상문)쓰기를 활용하였다. 그 가운데 반복적인 글쓰기를 통해 치료의 과정으로의 진입을 시도한 경우도 있었으나, 실질적인 치료의 과정으로 이루어지지는 못했다. ③ 기초서사영역 구분 단계 : 이 시기에는 문학치료 이론이 정교해졌고, 임상연구의 방법도 다양해진 시기이다. 특히 서사의 다기성을 바탕으로 자녀서사, 남녀서사, 부부서사, 부모서사영역의 구분을 통해 이전에 비해 자기서사를 좀 더 구체적이고 세밀하게 진단해 낼 수 있었다. 이는 환자의 자기서사가 네 가지 기초서사영역 중에서 어떠한 서사영역에 해당되는 지 파악하여 그와 관련된 작품서사를 손쉽게 찾을 수 있게 되었다는 점에서 기존의 진단방식에서 한 걸음 진보되었다고 할 수 있다. 또한 소설창작과 영화창작, 시창작분야가 개발되었는데, 이 중 영화창작은 영상을 통한 치료방법으로 수동적인 글쓰기 방법에서 보다 활동적이고 적극적인 방법으로 변화되었음을 보여준다. 영화창작은 특히 글쓰기를 싫어하는 아동을 비롯해서 청소년들과 대학생에 이르기까지 젊은 층에게 많은 호응을 얻고 있다. 더불어 이 시기부터 구체적인 증상(우울증 등)에 대한 임상연구가 본격적으로 진행되었다. ④ 자기서사진단도구 실행 단계 : 이 시기에는 자기서사진단도구 개발과 그에 따른 시험적인 실행을 바탕으로 자기서사진단의 편리성을 도모했다는 점에서 상당한 의미가 있다고 하겠다. 비록 프로그램 실행의 초기 단계이기 때문에 실제 임상에서 다른 검사 도구(MMPI, 살아온 이야기 등)를 의존하기도 하고, 결과의 오차 등 많은 시행착오가 발생했지만 이를 바탕으로 계속적인 수정ㆍ보안의 단계를 거쳐 실제 대중에게 보급될 날을 손꼽아 기다리는 중이다.

This manuscript proceeded with its debate with the purpose of solidifying the foundation of literary therapy while examining the current condition of clinical study of literary therapy so far and its future prospective through practical evidence on the therapeutic function of literature. ① Phase Before and After the Epic Conception Introduction: Since a specific theory of literary therapy has not yet been established in this period, study trends showed a tendency to seek therapeutic possibilities of literature regarding the classics. Afterwards, as the conception of ‘epic’ is introduced with 2003 as its starting point, a study was started based on it. The specialty of the clinical study at that time was the level of examining what kind of aspects they showed reviewing response through literary appreciation after analyzing the classics which will be used as a diagnostic agent. ② Creation Phase of Epic of Self and Epic of Literary Work: The conceptions of ‘epic of self’ and ‘epic of literary work’ were formed in this period while clinical studies were also finally animated at this time. The trend of clinical study at this time was established even up to the point of diagnosing the epic of self through the epic of literary work. As the method for this, most utilized the writing of book reviews (descriptions of impressions) through literary appreciation. Amidst this, even though there were cases of trying to enter into the therapy process through repetitive writings, it could not be achieved as a substantial therapeutic process. ③ Fundamental Epic Realm Distinguishing Phase: This is the period when the literary therapeutic theory became elaborated, and methods of clinical study made various. Especially, based on the divergence of the epic and compared to previous attempts, the epic of self was able to be diagnosed more specifically and minutely through the distinction of the realms of the son and daughter epics, man and woman epics, husband and wife epics, and father and mother epics. It could be said that there was an improvement of one step ahead from the previous diagnostic way in that it understands which epic realm the patients’ epic of self is located among the four fundamental epic realms, and it becomes easy finding epics of literary works related to it. Additionally, fictional, scenario, and poetry writing areas were developed; while among these, scenario writing is a therapeutic method through images which shows that writing methods have changed from a passive to a more dynamic and active one. Scenario writing is well received among the younger generation, especially from children who do not like to write to youths and college students. On top of this, clinical studies on specific symptoms (depression and more) were fully activated starting from this period. ④ The Epic of Self Test Execution Phase: This period could be said to have significant meaning in contriving the convenience of the epic of self test based on the development of the epic of the self test and the following trial execution. Even though since it was the beginning stage of executing the program, it depended on other test tools(MMPI, life story, etc.) in actual clinical circumstances, and many trial and errors were generated such as the aberration of results; we are looking forward to the day when actual distribution to the public will be possible based on this through constant modification and supplementation phases.

This manuscript proceeded with its debate with the purpose of solidifying the foundation of literary therapy while examining the current condition of clinical study of literary therapy so far and its future prospective through practical evidence on the therapeutic function of literature. ① Phase Before and After the Epic Conception Introduction: Since a specific theory of literary therapy has not yet been established in this period, study trends showed a tendency to seek therapeutic possibilities of literature regarding the classics. Afterwards, as the conception of ‘epic’ is introduced with 2003 as its starting point, a study was started based on it. The specialty of the clinical study at that time was the level of examining what kind of aspects they showed reviewing response through literary appreciation after analyzing the classics which will be used as a diagnostic agent. ② Creation Phase of Epic of Self and Epic of Literary Work: The conceptions of ‘epic of self’ and ‘epic of literary work’ were formed in this period while clinical studies were also finally animated at this time. The trend of clinical study at this time was established even up to the point of diagnosing the epic of self through the epic of literary work. As the method for this, most utilized the writing of book reviews (descriptions of impressions) through literary appreciation. Amidst this, even though there were cases of trying to enter into the therapy process through repetitive writings, it could not be achieved as a substantial therapeutic process. ③ Fundamental Epic Realm Distinguishing Phase: This is the period when the literary therapeutic theory became elaborated, and methods of clinical study made various. Especially, based on the divergence of the epic and compared to previous attempts, the epic of self was able to be diagnosed more specifically and minutely through the distinction of the realms of the son and daughter epics, man and woman epics, husband and wife epics, and father and mother epics. It could be said that there was an improvement of one step ahead from the previous diagnostic way in that it understands which epic realm the patients’ epic of self is located among the four fundamental epic realms, and it becomes easy finding epics of literary works related to it. Additionally, fictional, scenario, and poetry writing areas were developed; while among these, scenario writing is a therapeutic method through images which shows that writing methods have changed from a passive to a more dynamic and active one. Scenario writing is well received among the younger generation, especially from children who do not like to write to youths and college students. On top of this, clinical studies on specific symptoms (depression and more) were fully activated starting from this period. ④ The Epic of Self Test Execution Phase: This period could be said to have significant meaning in contriving the convenience of the epic of self test based on the development of the epic of the self test and the following trial execution. Even though since it was the beginning stage of executing the program, it depended on other test tools(MMPI, life story, etc.) in actual clinical circumstances, and many trial and errors were generated such as the aberration of results; we are looking forward to the day when actual distribution to the public will be possible based on this through constant modification and supplementation phases.

The present status of literary therapy clinical, A prospect of literary therapy clinical, appreciate literature, reconstitute epic, the epic of self test