'By a number of measures, this is an important and wide-ranging book. Ostensibly about dementia and the contribution that arts therapists can make to relieving the 'nameless dread' that lies behind dementia's implacable tread, a cursory reading will quickly reveal that topics broached extend far beyond these ostensible limits.' - From the foreword by Robin Higgins, former lecturer at Goldsmith's College and the Laban Centre for Dance and Movement, London

Clay is universally recognized as a medium of creative expression, and it also has great potential for therapeutic application. These two properties of clay are celebrated together in a book that explores the history, theory and techniques of claywork in eliciting therapeutic outcomes. Vignettes and case material explain and expand the text, which interweaves an appreciation of clay in art with many practical suggestions for its use in therapy. By according equal status to aesthetic outcomes and artistic integrity, the author offers a new and holistic approach to claywork. Practitioners and educators in the fields of therapy and art will find his book to be an essential source of information and ideas.

At least one in five pregnancies ends in miscarriage, yet pregnancy loss remains a taboo topic and effective aftercare is rarely available for those who have experienced it. Grief Unseen explains the different kinds of childbearing losses, such as failed fertility treatment, ectopic pregnancy, and stillbirth, and explores their emotional impact on women and their partners, and the process of healing. An established art therapist and mental health counselor, Laura Seftel shares her own experiences of miscarriage and recovery, and describes the use of art and ritual as a response to loss in traditional and modern cultures. She presents a rich variety of artists who have explored pregnancy loss in their work, including Frida Kahlo, Judy Chicago, and Tori Amos, and shows how people with no previous artistic experience can generate creative responses as part of the healing process. The book includes step-by-step exercises in guided imagery, poetry, visual art, journaling, and creating rituals. This accessible, positive resource will be useful to practitioners in the fields of medicine, mental health, art therapy, and counseling, as well as women and families who have suffered pregnancy loss.

Coping with life's stresses is difficult for everybody, but can be especially challenging for teenagers, who often feel isolated and misunderstood. Creative expression through art, craft, and writing is a natural and effective way of helping young people to explore and communicate personal identity. This book is bursting with art and journal activities, creative challenges, and miniature projects for bedrooms and other personal spaces, all of which help teenagers to understand and express who they are and what is important to them. These fun ideas can be tailored to suit the individual, and require minimal equipment and even less artistic know-how, so can be enjoyed by all. The book concludes with a useful section for counselors and other professionals who work with young people, which explains how these activities can be incorporated into treatment goals. This imaginative and insightful book is a useful resource for all therapists, social workers, and counselors who wish to encourage self-expression in teenagers.

This concise guide explains the theory behind drumming for therapy, as well as giving practical advice on facilitating and leading drum circles. The book explains why drumming is therapeutic, offers hands-on guidance for using drums in group therapy and details specific techniques to lead to increased engagement. Incorporating art therapy into drum circles, it provides step-by-step instructions on making and painting a multi-tonal drum from scratch. Emphasis is also placed on how to create a therapeutic or safe place while conducting a drum circle and making art.

The second edition of Using Drama with Children on the Autism Spectrum takes the perspective that support for the learning and development of children should have the purpose of giving them the freedom to be more fully who they are and able to function more effectively as themselves in a wider range of contexts. The focus of this new edition is on learning outcomes as expressed by autistic people, for example, to develop better understandings about the social world and to know how to manage everyday situations more successfully. This practical resource book contains more than 150 activities for use with children aged 5-11 years old. Written for mainstream and special education teachers, speech and language therapists, drama teachers, play workers and creative arts therapists, the book shows how using drama with children across the autism spectrum can provide valuable experiences in being with others and communicating with them in enjoyable ways that support the development of well-being and confidence. In addition, drama is presented as a rich medium for reflecting on everyday social situations and developing children's understandings about the social world. Complete with case studies, photocopiable resources and step-by-step guidance on how to facilitate drama activities that all children can enjoy, this practical resource will be invaluable for those who are looking for new ways of engaging children on the autism spectrum and their peers. The second edition of this practical resource has been extensively revised, updated and re-focused in line with current practice and thinking.

This book helps practitioners choose from the broad range of play therapy approaches to create a comprehensive treatment plan that meets the individual needs of each child. From leaders in the field, the volume provides a flexible roadmap for assessment, case formulation, and intervention for frequently encountered psychological disorders and adversities. The focus is creating a unique therapy "prescription" that is tailored to the child's presenting problems as well as his or her strengths, challenges, and developmental level. Contributors present up-to-date knowledge on each clinical problem, describe practices that have been shown to be effective, and share vivid illustrations of work with 3- to 16-year-olds and their parents.

Rick Soshensky presents a groundbreaking introduction to music's power to heal and transform, weaving collections of uplifting case studies from music therapy practices with ideas from spiritual traditions, philosophies, psychological theorists, and music therapy theorists and researchers. Going beyond just theoretical and clinical information, The Music Therapy Studio centers the stories and experiences of people with disabilities-marginalized people for whom the world allows little time or place but whose extraordinary musical journeys teach us about the unseen depths and indomitably of the human spirit. In conversational language, Soshensky uses these stories to introduce the concept of the music therapy studio and to investigate core concepts in music-centered approaches to music therapy, where the experience of music as a creative art with clients has intrinsic value that supersedes diagnostic labeling and behavioral goal-setting. The result is a unique and inspiring book that leads us towards a deeper understanding and appreciation of music therapy and music's spiritual benefits.

Performing Psychologies offers new perspectives on arts and health, focussing on the different ways in which performance interacting with psychology can enhance understanding of the mind. The book challenges stereotypes of disability, madness and creativity, addressing a range of conditions (autism, dementia and schizophrenia) and performance practices including staged productions and applied work in custodial, health and community settings. Featuring case studies ranging from Hamlet to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the pioneering work of companies such as Spare Tyre and Ridiculusmus, and embracing dance and music as well as theatre and drama, the volume offers new perspectives on the dynamic interactions between performance, psychology and states of mind. It contains contributions from psychologists, performance scholars, therapists and healthcare professionals, who offer multiple perspectives on working through performance-based media. Presenting a richly interdisciplinary and collaborative investigation of the arts in practice, this volume opens up new ways of thinking about the performance of psychologies, and about how psychologies perform.

Celebratory, joyous and moving, this is a book about the profoundly healing, curative qualities of dogs - and how we need dogs in our lives more than ever. The dog-human bond is the most extraordinary cross-species friendship on the planet. Dogs give people so much: affection, companionship and profound emotional support. Now, more than ever, we can see the clear health benefits of living with a dog by our side. Drawing on science, research and in-depth personal interviews, Good Dog demonstrates how vastly a dog can improve our mental and physical health as well as our quality of life. Kate Leaver begins by telling the story of how she met her beloved rescue shih tzu, Bertie, and how powerfully he helps her through periods of depression. Then she meets 10 other remarkable dogs who've changed human lives - from Missy the pug, who helps 11-year-old Cody live his best life despite his autism diagnosis, to Pip, who helps her teenage owner manage diabetes, and Jingles, who works with inmates in a prison. With each story, it becomes more and more obvious how profoundly dogs can support us, comfort us and even save our lives. Celebratory, joyous and moving, this is a book for anyone who has ever loved a dog - and known their love in return.

There is growing evidence for the powerful role that music plays in enhancing children's cognitive, social, and emotional development. Written for a broad audience of mental health professionals, this is the first book to provide accessible ways of integrating music into clinical work with children and adolescents. Rich case vignettes show how to use singing, drumming, listening to music, and many other strategies to connect with hard-to-reach children, promote self-regulation, and create opportunities for change. The book offers detailed guidelines for addressing different clinical challenges, including attachment difficulties, trauma, and behavioral, emotional, and communication problems. Each chapter concludes with concrete recommendations for practice; an appendix presents a photographic inventory of recommended instruments.

Music Therapy is making its way into the field of health sciences with evidence of its effectiveness in different disciplines. Chapter One presents considerations about social and cultural interactions that permeated the music therapy activities developed along an eight-year project hosted by a Brazilian university. Chapter Two covers a research study on the influence of 15-minute sessions of classic music therapy on physiological parameters of hospitalised premature newborns and discusses the use of music as a therapeutic tool for this population in neonatal care units. Chapter Three reviews and contrasts the results of scientific studies of music therapy made on the grounds of improving pain, physical wellness, anxiety, relaxation, mood and quality of life in cancer patients. In Chapter Four, the authors describe recent studies that have investigated the acute influence of musical auditory stimulus on autonomic heart rate control. Chapter Five considers the importance of including Music Therapy in rehabilitation programs for patients with Cerebrovascular accidents, and its potential to restore upper and lower limb movement. This book concludes with Chapter Six, a short communication that suggests an extension of the representational capabilities involved in the idea of the forms of vitality to a wider musical scope than the traditional one, which is mainly based on the parameters of rhythm, melody and harmony.

"Therapeutic Recreation Leadership and Programming" will help students learn the essential aspects of professional practice while developing a leadership mind-set. The book focuses on the day-to-day responsibilities of the therapeutic recreation specialist (TRS) while integrating ethical considerations into each aspect of the job. Readers will learn how to perform the daily work of a TRS while maintaining the highest ethical standards of the profession. The book details

- the principles, theories, and codes of ethics that will form the foundation of specialists' understanding of the field and set the stage for practice;

- the knowledge, skills, and leadership principles that TRSs will need in order to help their clients accomplish therapeutic outcomes;

- strategies that will guide TRSs in planning a wide range of programs and services, including information on frequently encountered health problems, major program areas, facilitation strategies, and client and program evaluation; and

- methods for program organization and delivery that will prepare specialists to offer a regular schedule of therapeutic recreation programs that meet the needs of all of their clients, whether in group or individual settings.

The book will arm students with the information and tools they need in order to succeed as therapeutic recreation specialists. It familiarizes students with their future clients by describing the health concerns most often encountered in therapeutic settings. Case studies for the most common concerns provide students with concrete examples of how programming works in various clinical settings. The book also provides specific recreation activities from five major program areas, along with information on the effectiveness of the activities, risk management concerns, and implementation strategies. Step-by-step instructions for structuring, planning, and leading both group and one-on-one sessions will prepare students to implement programs in a wide variety of settings.

Stories from professionals in the field, examples of real and hypothetical clients, and case studies show students how to use the principles they've learned when leading programs. Learning activities help them to further explore the concepts in each chapter, and highlight boxes emphasize key ideas related to each chapter's content. An instructor guide is available to course adopters at www.HumanKinetics.com/TherapeuticRecreationLeadershipandProgramming.

Play Therapy and Asperger's Syndrome: Helping Children and Adolescents Grow, Connect, and Heal Through the Art of Play is for the mental health professional (psychologist, licensed counselor, licensed social worker) who utilizes play therapy and who works with children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. This book is also for the graduate student learning effective therapy approaches to use with children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. The book provides a history of Asperger's syndrome and the challenges that often arise in therapy with this population. The book examines therapist characteristics and skills necessary to effectively utilize play therapy with young people diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. Play Therapy and Asperger's Syndrome presents the main therapeutic themes of children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and play therapy techniques are provided for each theme to address the emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges. A separate chapter is devoted to issues of divorce and grief/loss and presents specific play therapy techniques to help children and adolescents diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome during these potentially tumultuous life events. Each chapter presents play therapy techniques to help build family connections and help parents/caregivers connect in a deeper understanding of their child or adolescent diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.

Since its inception, art therapy has relied largely on theory "borrowed" from psychotherapeutic approaches. In this provocative and original book on art therapy, Frances Kaplan outlines a scientific approach to art therapy. Kaplan examines the relationship between art and science, delineating the role of research and encouraging a spirit of enquiry in art therapy. She looks at the latest scientific developments, especially those in biology, evolution, and brain science, and relates them to theories about the creation and interpretation of art. This leads her to show how art therapists would benefit from learning more about neurology and the physical effects of art on the brain, and from being able to apply this knowledge in their art therapy practice. The scientific evidence presented offers support for an art-based theory of art therapy. By demonstrating the relationship between two disciplines which are traditionally thought of as opposing, Kaplan challenges our assumptions about art therapy and issues a call for further research and debate.

You may have read about the Longwood Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in the paper or heard them on your favorite classical radio station. Yet the LSO is not just any orchestra. The LSO began in 1982 began in 1982 with a group of talented Boston-area physicians, med students and health-care professionals and, thanks to Harvard Medical School pediatrician and violinist Lisa Wong, who became the president of the LSO in 1991, the orchestra has transformed into a proud, extraordinary group of musicians with fans around the globe. In Scales to Scalpels, Dr. Wong chronicles how the music acumen of these physicians affects the way they administer healing and, in turn, how their medical work affects their music. How does practicing the art of music transform the art of practicing medicine?

Activity staff will love the fun, games, and ideas packed into these CD collections that help excite the brains of young and old alike! Drawn from author Kathy Laurenhue's successful Brain Aerobics Weekly publication, each CD-ROM contains an engaging assortment of original trivia quizzes, exercises in creativity, word games, discussion topics, and more. Print and use these materials anytime and with anyone to stimulate memory, problem solving, creativity and - best of all - humor and relaxation.

Activity staff will love the fun, games, and ideas packed into these CD collections that help excite the brains of young and old alike! Drawn from author Kathy Laurenhue's successful Brain Aerobics Weekly publication, each CD-ROM contains an engaging assortment of original trivia quizzes, exercises in creativity, word games, discussion topics, and more. Print and use these materials anytime and with anyone to stimulate memory, problem solving, creativity and - best of all - humor and relaxation.

Art-based activities can develop resilience and self-esteem, enabling children in need to cope better with ongoing stress and loss. Arts Activities for Children and Young People in Need offers interventions and exercises drawn from practice and research, for practitioners to use as a basis for their own arts-based groups or one-to-one sessions. Holistic arts activities facilitate a spiritually sensitive approach. Mindfulness-based exercises underpin the approach, and include guided meditations in which a group imagines that they are clouds, or draw feelings and emotions while listening to music, to encourage awareness of the senses. The activities help the group to relax and become more self-aware, encourage an exploration of feelings, values and understanding and are beneficial for children not ready to embrace traditional therapies or counselling. This book is accessible and suitable for helping, health and education practitioners and students from a variety of disciplines, such as social work, psychology and counselling.

This book is an amazing resource for play therapy techniques. The contributors come from a diverse group including child-centered, cognitive-behavioral, gestalt, Jungian, psychodynamic, and prescriptive play therapy.