Contemporary Art Therapy with Adolescents offers practical and imaginative solutions to the multifaceted challenges that clinicians face when treating young people. The author fuses the contemporary theories of clinical treatment with the creative processes of art therapy to arrive at a synthesis which yields successful outcomes when working with adolescents. Clinicians of allied disciplines, particularly art therapists, will find practical suggestions for using imagery to enrich their relationships with teenaged clients. The process of using art-making therapeutically, and the challenges of applying creativity in the current mental health world, are explored. Shirley Riley reviews current theories on adolescent development and therapy, and emphasizes the primary importance of relying on the youths' own narrative in the context of their social and economic backgrounds. She has found this approach preferential to following pre-designed assessment directives as a primary function of art therapy. Family, group and individual treatment are examined, as is the adolescent's response to short- and long-term treatment in residential and therapeutic school settings. The book is firmly rooted in Riley's clinical experience of working with this age group, and her proven ability to combine contemporary theories of adolescent treatment with inventive and effective art expressions.

With the increasing probability of floods, wars, and human displacement, there will be a great need for health care professionals to help. The arts provide a new, human, and cost-effective way to bring relief and to ease some of the human suffering associated with trauma.The editor, Lois Carey, presents a compelling rationale for the use of the arts therapies to work with trauma. First, it is now clear that traumatized children have difficulty using words to describe their experience. Drawing, play, music and other creative forms allow for an indirect expression that reduces anxiety, and they also help to establish a therapeutic relationship and an area of safety. The same is true for traumatized adults, who are often nonverbal... this book can be a beginning of much-needed documentation of the use of the expressive arts methods for trauma survivors and will provide a significant and useful introduction to the field for health professionals.' - PsycCRITIQUES 'I think the descriptions of the methods are interesting and they show a lot of experience in the field of trauma-treatment. It is a well written, very readable book of the practice.' -Tijdschrift voor Vaktherapie (Journal of Therapy) 'This book throws more light on different expressive and creative arts methods in the treatment of trauma. In detailed case studies and research, the authors offer an overview of creative arts methods aiming at brain functions which are not always being reached by verbal therapy alone.' -Tijdschrift voor Vaktherapie (Journal of Therapy) 'The authors use a rich mix of interesting case material and useful explanation of the techniques for the uninitiated.' - Therapy Today 'A very good job of promoting the use of expressive arts therapy to complement talking therapies and achieve results that talking therapy cannot.' - Play Therapy UK 'If you are a parent, dealing daily with the effects of traumatised children, and especially finding it difficult to firstly access specialist therapy and secondly to understand the principles in relation to your child, then this book will give you a clear understanding of the aims and outcomes of therapies which may be on offer.' - www.adoption-net.co.uk Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors demonstrates how play, art, and music therapies, as well as sandplay, psychodrama and storytelling, can be used to aid the recovery of trauma victims. Drawing on detailed case studies and a growing body of evidence of the benefits of non-verbal therapies, the contributors-all leading practitioners in their fields-provide an overview of creative therapies that tap into sensate aspects of the brain not always reached by verbal therapy alone. Methods of exploring traumatic experiences with a view to limiting patients' distress are also explored. The techniques discussed are appropriate for work with children, families and groups and are based on established approaches, including Jungian, Child-centred, Gestalt and Freudian theories. Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors will be an enlightening read for expressive and specialized arts therapists and for students and academics in these fields.

Art therapy and all of the other creative arts therapies have promoted themselves as ways of expressing what cannot be conveyed in conventional language. Why is it that creative arts therapists fail to apply this line of thinking to research? In this exciting and innovative book, Shaun McNiff, one of the field's pioneering educators and authors, breaks new ground in defining and inspiring art-based research. He illustrates how practitioner-researchers can become involved in art-based inquiries during their educational studies and throughout their careers, and shows how new types of research can be created that resonate with the artistic process. Clearly and cogently expressed, the theoretical arguments are illustrated by numerous case examples, and the final part of the book provides a wealth of ideas and thought provoking questions for research. This challenging book will prove invaluable to creative art therapy educators, students, and clinicians who wish to approach artistic inquiry as a way of conducting research. It will also find a receptive audience within the larger research community where there is a rising commitment to expanding the theory and practice of research. Integrating artistic and scientific procedures in many novel ways, this book offers fresh and productive visions of what research can be.

This work provides insights for art therapists and other mental health workers on how to approach problems of cultural difference in their own work and on how cultural influences are likely to be affecting their clients. Contributions come from art therapists in the USA, Australia, Canada and Britain and include issues from an array of cultural experiences. The contributors examine their work with clients of various ages and cultures and fuse theory with practice, considering issues from personal, educational, supervisory, clinical and theoretical perspectives.

Stephen K. Levine argues that poiesis, the creative act, is also the act by which we affirm our identity and humanity; in exploring this subject he shows the essential affinity of the creative and the therapeutic processes and explores the nature of creative acts. This book looks in detail at the connections between expressive arts, such as poetry, and psychology and develops understanding of the theoretical foundations which connect the arts and psychotherapy. It considers the context in which modern therapy emerged and looks at various aspects of different arts therapies. It provides a much-needed step in the theoretical underpinning of the expressive therapies.

Conflict is an increasingly common feature of modern life, and often has disastrous and destructive outcomes. Arts Approaches to Conflict explores how various arts approaches can both raise our understanding of conflict and lead to its constructive resolution. Practitioners and experts from a wide range of art forms examine their own fields as approaches to conflict, encompassing: - visual arts - drama, puppetry and masks - music - storytelling - dance and movement - the combined arts Arts Approaches to Conflict is a rich resource of new ideas, practices and information which explores the creative ways to address conflict. It is fascinating and eye-opening reading both for students and practitioners in arts therapies, psychotherapy, counselling, social work, mediation, probation and prison services.

In examining the power of music as a means of self-expression and the consequent benefit for health that this brings, David Aldridge clarifies the importance of music in our culture of healing. With the help of case studies, he gives an overview of music therapy practice as it is used in medical settings in work with a wide range of illnesses including AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis and autism. This practical approach is complemented by an examination of research in music therapy. An account of the development of a research programme illustrates how research may be structured systematically to describe and analyse the clinical benefits of music therapy, and the dynamic nature of the relationship between theory and practice is made clear.

The Alexander Technique is a long-established, accessible and highly effective way of learning to change and retrain postural and behavioural habits that cause unnecessary tension, stress and illness. Developed over a century ago by F.M. Alexander (who taught the technique to George Bernard Shaw, Henry Irving, Aldous Huxley and many others), the Alexander Technique is a form of conscious awareness and mindfulness avant la lettre. It has always been used principally by actors--though it has wide applications in other professions and in daily life. Kate Kelly has a lifetime's experience as an actor and Alexander teacher. In Before the Curtain Opens, she invites performers of all sorts to examine the everyday habits of standing, sitting, breathing, speaking and reacting that spill over, unseen, into their professional lives. Using her own experience, miniature case studies, humour and unfailingly gentle kindness, she shines a spotlight on our deepest-rooted habits. On every page she offers advice, tips, techniques and guidance to help actors and performers retrain themselves in everything they do in daily life--before the curtain opens.

British Musical Modernism explores the works of eleven key composers to reveal the rapid shifts of expression and technique that transformed British art music in the post-war period. Responding to radical avant-garde developments in post-war Europe, the Manchester Group composers - Alexander Goehr, Peter Maxwell Davies, and Harrison Birtwistle - and their contemporaries assimilated the serial-structuralist preoccupations of mid-century internationalism to an art grounded in resurgent local traditions. In close readings of some thirty-five scores, Philip Rupprecht traces a modernism suffused with the formal elegance of the 1950s, the exuberant theatricality of the 1960s, and - in the works of David Bedford and Tim Souster - the pop, minimalist, and live-electronic directions of the early 1970s. Setting music-analytic insights against a broader social-historical backdrop, Rupprecht traces a British musical modernism that was at once a collective artistic endeavor, and a sounding myth of national identity.

'Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.' Roger Caras Relax and unwind with this charming collection of colouring patterns inspired by man's best friend, from tiny dachshunds to mighty Great Danes. Colour, create and keep calm!

This book is the result the of the author's adventure in painting and work with Liane Collot d'Herbois (1907-1999), the well-known artist and therapist who worked in the tradition of Rudolf Steiner's spiritual research. The author learned to surrender to the beings of color, to remove one's self from the process, and to paint as "one would do mathematics," that is, in an orderly way. The journey recorded in Touched takes the reader first to Tintagel on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall, England, where Liane Collot d'Herbois had lived as a child. In the early 1990s, the author first met Liane in Driebergen, The Netherlands, and began a journey of self-discovery through color. She recollects conversations with Liane, shares significant words from Rudolf Steiner, Liane, and others, along with observations on her travels through England, Europe, Russia, Persia, and elsewhere. Underlying the narrative is Marie-Laure's more intimate journey into light and darkness and colors and the wise teaching of Liane Collot d'Herbois. She describes the effects of using charcoal to explore light and darkness, then moves on discuss colors individually and their effects, subtle and otherwise, while illuminating her text with the words of Rudolf Steiner and others and offering her own observations on artists and color. Touched offers a sound and practical introduction to the world of light and darkness and color, as well as insights that will inspire experienced artists.

How to Create Little Happy Learners presents an inspiring selection of learning and craft activities designed to promote a love of learning. Written by Sophie David, a former early years teacher and adviser who is now a stay-at-home mum with 3 children under 5, she is now channelling her knowledge and creativity to show-case the craft ideas she was using to keep her children entertained. Here, she offers over 60 fun-packed activities for children, all highlighting different skills (fine motor, phonics, maths, creativity, communication and independence). Split into topics ranging from animals to transport, Sophie not only offers crafting activities that involve children and can be used time and time again utilising everyday items, she also adapts each activity for different age groups (from 0-5 years) so you can reuse the book as your child grows. Some activities include: - Searching for animal fossils (phonics and creativity) - Bug Count (problem solving and maths) - Emotion stones (communication) - Creating sensory bags (baby play and motor skills) This book offers a bank of great activities to not only inspire a love of learning in your children but to make that journey a fun, craft filled one.

Highly practical, instructive, and authoritative, this book vividly describes how to conduct child-centered play therapy. The authors are master clinicians who explain core therapeutic principles and techniques, using rich case material to illustrate treatment of a wide range of difficulties. The focus is on nondirective interventions that allow children to freely express their feelings and take the lead in solving their own problems. Flexible yet systematic guidelines are provided for setting up a playroom; structuring sessions; understanding and responding empathically to children's play themes, including how to handle challenging behaviors; and collaborating effectively with parents.

Originator, innovator, activist and educator, Emeritus Professor Michael Edwards was central to the international evolution of art therapy. These previously unpublished papers are the most substantial written record of his thinking. Highly praised by leading figures in art psychotherapy, Professor Shaun McNiff wrote '...the ideas have wings that carry the reader inside to the marrow of art... The book will appeal to artists looking for a threshold into the arts in therapy'. Rejection of reductionism and fundamentalism made Edwards a champion of soul, a challenger of simple mindedness. Widely honoured as an art therapist, educator, supervisor and Jungian analyst this book appropriately reflects Edwards achievements. The humour, wisdom and idiosyncrasy of the writer has been preserved in the careful editing by Learmonth & Huckvale of these transcribed talks. The book is beautifully illustrated with some of Edward's favourite artworks, the 'Talepieces' from Thomas Bewick's Birds.

For more than a decade, Karen Chase taught poetry writing to severely incapacitated patients at a large psychiatric hospital outside of New York City. During that time, she began working with Ben, a handsome, formerly popular and athletic young man who had given up speaking and had withdrawn from social interaction. Meeting on the locked ward every week for two years, Chase and Ben passed a pad of paper back and forth, taking turns writing one line of poetry each, ultimately producing one hundred and eighty poems that responded to, diverged from, and built on each other's words. "Land of Stone" is Chase's account of writing with Ben, an experience that was deeply transformative for both poet and patient. In Chase's engrossing narrative, readers will find inspiration in the power of writing to change and heal, as well as a compelling firsthand look at the relationship between poet and patient. As she tells of Ben's struggle to come out of silence, Chase also recounts the issues in her own life that she confronts by writing with Ben, including her mother's recent death and a childhood struggle with polio. Also, since poetry writing seems to reach Ben in a way that his clinical therapy cannot, Chase describes and analyzes Ben's writing in detail to investigate the changes that appeared to be taking place in him as their work progressed. A separate section presents twenty-two poems that Chase wrote with Ben, selected to show his linguistic development over time, and a final section offers Chase's thoughtful reflections on the creative process. "Land of Stone" will provide honest and valuable insight to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, alternative therapists, and other mental health practitioners, and will also surely be of interest to creative writers, teachers, linguists, and anyone looking to explore the connections between language and healing.

This remarkable book describes the progression of three nonverbal autistic music therapy clients from a state of inward frustration and an inability to communicate it towards a liberating ability to express, through Facilitated Communication, the thoughts and feelings stimulated by hearing and playing music. Ginger Clarkson's method of music therapy involves creating a 'journey' out of hearing a piece of music. Her clients, Jerry, Scott and Twyla are encouraged to create expressive 'dream' images using music as a catalyst and are able to overcome spoken language difficulties by using a computer keyboard as a medium for communication. Through these detailed case studies, I Dreamed I was Normal demonstrates how the Nordoff Robbins and Helen Bonny methods of music therapy can be adapted successfully for use as an intervention for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This book is a valuable addition to the literature on both music therapy and therapies for autism for families of people with ASDs and professionals working with them, music therapists and students in the field.

"This is accessible, well-written and easy to breeze through, it is an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend as an introduction to the subject of art therapy" - "International Arts Therapies Journal www.sagepub.com""Vivid clinical vignettes and remarkable illustrations combine to give a lively sense of art therapy in action. They bring the reader right into the art therapy studio. David Edwards locates the practice of art therapy firmly in its historical and cultural context, explaining its roots in art and links to psychoanalysis, in this always engaging account. The detailed bibliography and resources section offers a foundation for further exploration as well as information about training. An excellent introduction to the topic, this book will be invaluable for beginners, students and experienced practitioners alike" - "Professor Joy Schaverien, Jungian Analyst, East Midlands and Visiting Professor in Art Psychotherapy, University of Sheffield

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"I believe that David Edwards book is an excellent introduction for all of those wishing to increase their knowledge concerning the profession of art therapy. Readers will particularly appreciate David's ability to clearly convey complex material which includes psychotherapeutic concepts, illustrated case histories, and historical to the present day developments within the profession. A readable and accessible overview which will contribute to a greater understanding of the profession of art therapy and the therapeutic use of art undertaken by registered art therapists" - "Carole Pembrooke, Chair of the British Association of Art Therapists.

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Art Therapy provides a concise introduction to theory and practice, brought to life through case material and examples of artwork produced during therapy sessions. Written by practicing art therapist Dave Edwards, the book explains key theoretical ideas - such as symbolism, play, transference and interpretation - and shows how these relate to practice.

The book also provides useful information on training and employment as well as guidance on practical issues such as:

} assessing clients

} establishing and maintaining boundaries, and

} ending therapy.

An extended case study provides an overview of the whole process from beginning to end, tying together issues discussed in earlier chapters.

For anyone training or planning to train as an art therapist, Art Therapy offers an excellent foundation on which to build future knowledge and skills."

Combining essential information, professional insights, and lived experiences, this book offers a unique overview of the use of music therapy with active-duty service members, veterans, and other military-connected populations in the United States. Contributors include music therapists specializing with the military, as well as military personnel, veterans, and their families, providing an in-depth review of the impact that music therapy can have within this community. Detailing the historical evolution of the approach within a military context, the book explores the integration of music therapy into traditional treatment programs for service members and veterans particularly those with TBI and PTSD. Chapters cover the use of music therapy in both individual and group settings, and the opportunities to facilitate therapy via virtual platforms. Throughout, it emphasises the importance of music in military culture, highlighting the benefits of this approach with military communities. Personal accounts from military families are also included, as well as discussion on continued clinical and research innovation within the field. The first book to address this growing practice, it will inspire, inform and empower therapists and professionals working with and supporting military populations.

Exploring the arts in therapy, this book investigates the concept that creativity is an essential element of psychotherapy. A process of "tending the fire" of the arts in therapy allows play and experimentation to enter the therapeutic space and enlighten the experience for both client and therapist. Through the author's own personal art-making journal, an outlining of the aspects of the theory of creativity in the therapeutic process, and the author's practical application of expressive arts therapy in various clinical settings, this text demonstrates how forms of sensory and artistic expression can help clients arrive at surprising new possibilities in therapy and life.

With both personal and professional insight from a range of contributors, this informative guide highlights the use of art therapy in a range of settings to support military veterans. Offering a wealth of knowledge on this approach and the variety of current programs available, this is an invaluable resource for all therapists looking to provide support for this population. Chapters explore the use of art therapy in a range of different settings, including museum programs, open studio therapy and assisted living environments, as well as large group therapy at treatment facilities for active-duty service members. It also offers rare insight into the effectiveness of art therapy in supporting veterans who are processing military sexual trauma, moral injury and countertransference, filling essential gaps in knowledge within this area. As demand for this practice continues to grow, Art Therapy with Veterans provides inspiration for future programs and therapists looking to support military communities.

An introduction to the field of psychological aesthetics for art educators, art therapists, psychoanalysts, artists and art lovers, this book re-evaluates conventional philosophical and psychoanalytic approaches to aesthetic qualities themselves, to the kinds of psychological significance they can generate, and to the interweaving of inner and outer realities upon which this depends. Art history tends to see an artist's work in the context of their life and times; psychoanalysis and art therapy tend to see art works in terms of an `unconscious' meaning that is beneath the surface of its `aesthetic' properties, within the context of the therapeutic relationship. Maclagan draws attention to the intimate connections between the aesthetic qualities of an art work per se, felt out in its material handling, be they attractive, disconcerting or just bland, and a wide range of psychological meanings. Drawing on phenomenology and archetypal psychology, as well as on neglected writers on unconcious aspects of form, Psychological Aesthetics: Painting, Feeling and Making Sense explores this realm of feeling, the different ways in which it is embodied in art and how we can use `subjective' strategies to articulate it in words. It will open new perspectives in understanding both the processes of art making and our creative response to its results.