In the last few years the number of art therapists has grown significantly and the ranges of different contexts where their skills are valued has broadened enormously. This has brought art therapists into contact with many members of the other caring professions, who need and want to know more about art therapy and its benefits for their clients.
There is increasing interest in the use of the arts generally, with disadvantaged people of all kinds. This may include joining in arts activities and also the more personal process of art therapy. The benefits to the people involved may be far-reaching, increasing a sense of self-worth and the ability to communicate. New ways of working are being developed all the time, and art therapists are pushing out the boundaries as they do this. This book describe what actually happens in art therapy in a variety of contexts, as practised by particular art therapists.
The contributors to this volume all work and live in the same geographical region and have evolved their aims as a group. Between them they cover a wide variety of client groups: acute and long-term psychiatric patients, psychogeriatric patients, mentally handicapped people with psychiatric problems, children with psychological problems, offenders in the community and homeless people.
There is increasing interest in the use of the arts generally, with disadvantaged people of all kinds. This may include joining in arts activities and also the more personal process of art therapy. The benefits to the people involved may be far-reaching, increasing a sense of self-worth and the ability to communicate. New ways of working are being developed all the time, and art therapists are pushing out the boundaries as they do this. This book describe what actually happens in art therapy in a variety of contexts, as practised by particular art therapists.
The contributors to this volume all work and live in the same geographical region and have evolved their aims as a group. Between them they cover a wide variety of client groups: acute and long-term psychiatric patients, psychogeriatric patients, mentally handicapped people with psychiatric problems, children with psychological problems, offenders in the community and homeless people.
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Reviews
This book does not delve so deeply into theory that it loses the reader nor is it overly simplistic at the expense of detail. We are informed, not only of the larger concepts which have been used but, through the case studies and authors observations, can encounter techniques which may be helpful in our work. It is a good introduction for the newcomer in the field, and an important addition to those practitioners already working in this creative manner. In short this book is a positive contribution to a poorly documented field of innovative conflict transformation and peacebuilding work.
Marian Liebmann's introduction provides a highly lucid and readable account of many of the most important concepts and ideas. It would be a good primer for anyone coming to the subject. All the accounts are clear in themselves, and relate well to one another, giving us a clear image of the range and depth of art therapy practice. The result is an encouraging and stimulating 'progress report' on where we are as a profession... there is a richness and variety of material here that succeeds in offering a perspective on art therapy that has unity without conformity.
The most important message which is conveyed in this excellent collection lies in its demonstration of the way in which art therapists have managed to extend their skills in the service of such a wide variety of human distress. It heralds a call to all art therapists to continue to accept any challenge while at the same time it may help others to consider its possibilities in fields where, up to now, it has not figured.
This book offers a valuable contribution to the dissemination of information about the practice of art therapy... fascinating reading.
`Well designed and illustrated… It should be of special interest to any one involved in the caring professions or for those involved in staff training, and it could provide stimulating ideas for the inclusion of art therapy in the planning of future projects.'