Working with people from different cultural backgrounds presents practical and theoretical problems for art therapists, as well as the opportunities represented by a medium which crosses linguistic and cultural barriers. In this volume, professionals engaged in art therapy discuss aspects of practice which are affected by an environment of increasing cultural diversity. Some contributions examine the problems faced by members of ethnic minorities who are caught between assertion of their cultural identities and assimilation into a different social milieu, and the significance of the racial identity and cultural assumptions of the art therapist working with them. Others explore the effect that treating clients from other cultures has had on them, and how they have dealt with the feelings of loss, helplessness and guilt experienced when helping refugees who have suffered traumatic events in their native countries. Each chapter represents a synthesis of the scholarship and the clinical experience of its author, and the book as a whole balances case studies with academic research. While articulating the need for more cultural diversity among practitioners, all the contributors feel that contact with other traditions has enriched them as well as their clients.
Newsletter Signup
By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Reviews
Tapestry of Cultural Issues in Art Therapy is a particularly awaited and rare book which addresses multicultural issues in art therapy... this book offers an openness to cultural diversity and variability as well as a sensitive awareness which could inspire anyone in the mental health profession.
Tapestry of Cultural issues in Art Therapy is a collection of thought-provoking, informative and, at times, surprising chapters. It is divided into three parts: "Clinical Issues in Art Therapy", "Educational Issues in Art Therapy" and "Personal Constructs in Art Therapy". Major themes under the umbrella of art therapy, race and culture are covered. These include: the challenges of working with specific racial communities; the interplay of historical, social and political forces which affect the context of therapy and the therapeutic relationship; how cultures relate to art-making and meaning; how such awareness can inform art therapy practice and the implications for the training of art therapists to meet the challenge of work with cultural diversity. Tapestry of Cultural Issues in Art Therapy deserves reading and respect, it should be received as writing that inspires therapists to seriously question whether their thinking and practice of art therapy is truly racially and culturally accountable.
Each chapter starts with an abstract and follows with a solid literature review. The chapters are clearly focused, and because each chapter ends with a list of references, one can easily gather additional information on a given topic. In fact, the references are so ample the book can also double as a reference book. If I came to Tapestry of Cultural Issues seeking answers, I would have been dissatisfied because the book does not give direct answers; it provides an opportunity to learn from other art therapists and in so doing it invites self-learning. As a text, Tapestry of Cultural Issues in Art Therapy can be read by and the material applied by students, experienced art therapists, and other mental health workers on a professional or personal level. However approached, and however used, Tapestry of Cultural Studies is a solid contribution to art therapy literature and should be valued as part of every therapist's library.
In conclusion, the message I received while reading this book is that we as art therapists have many areas to address within the cultural tapestry of our profession. The editors, Hiscox and Calisch, undertook an ambitious task, bringing together a wide range of subject matter with challenging, complex material. This book was informative, with valuable reference material, case studies and client and therapist art work. It is a welcome addition to the art therapy literature. It will partially fill a curriculum need and may serve to encourage art therapy supervisors, educators, clinicians and students to expand upon many themes explored by the authors.