The relational context is the most important component of arts-based therapy work. This book demonstrates how this is so, explains the major art relational neuroscience principles relevant to art therapy and shows how they can be used to help clients with autobiographical memory, reflecting and creating, touch and space, meaning-making, emotions, and dealing with long-term stress and trauma.

Art Therapy and Clinical Neuroscience offers an authoritative introductory account of recent developments in clinical neuroscience and its impact on art therapy theory and practice. Contributors explore the complex relationship between art and creativity and neurological functions such as those that occur during stress response, immune functioning, child developmental phases, gender difference, the processing of imagery, attachment, and trauma. It deciphers neuroscientific language and theory and contributes innovative concrete applications and interventions useful in art therapy. This book is essential reading for art therapists, expressive arts therapists, counselors, mental health practitioners, and students.

Art Therapy and Social Action is an exciting and innovative exploration of how human service professionals can incorporate the techniques and approaches of art therapy in their work to address social problems, and examines the expanding role of art practitioner as social activist. Leading art therapists and other human service professionals show how creative methods can be used effectively to resolve conflicts, manage aggression, heal trauma and build communities. The contributors provide examples of innovative programs on a range of topics, including those designed to address gun crime, homelessness, racism and experiences of terrorism. This timely book provides new techniques and successful models for art therapists, counselors and mental health practitioners working directly with the challenges of modern society.

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.