A Theory-Based Approach to Art Therapy: Implications for Teaching, Research and Practice(Explorations in Mental Health)

Art therapy literature is often based either on practice in a specific setting, art material or population, or if taking a more theoretical focus, on illustrative case studies. This book provides a theory-based approach to research, teaching, and practicing art therapy, including verbal and arts based techniques, settings, art processes and analyses, and the principles of supervision, evaluation, and research. It also offers an overview and discussion of how the different orientations of psychological and social theories are interpreted and implemented by art therapy. The book provides an integrative perspective that anchors methodology within a rigorous theoretical background. Focusing on three sub-groups of Dynamic, Humanistic and Systemic-social theories, each chapter outlines the central concepts of varying sub-theories within a general heading, and their interpretation from an art therapy perspective. Ephrat Huss explores the respective and shifting roles of art, client, and therapist through each theory, demonstrating the practical implications for creating a coherent intervention that informs all parts of the setting, therapy, client evaluation, and supervision. A Theory-based Approach to Art Therapy draws on the latest research in the field and will be a valuable text for art therapy theorists, educators, students and researchers, as well as for other social practitioners interested in understanding how to integrate the arts into their practice.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Section 1: Art Therapy According to Theory Art as a Path to the Unconscious: Art therapy and Psychodynamic theory. Art as Relationships: Art therapy and object relations. Art as the Ego: Art therapy and ego psychology. Culturally Contextualized Art as Healing on a Pre-conscious Level: Art therapy and Jung. Summary of Dynamic Theories. Art as a Path to the Self: Art therapy and Humanistic theories. Art as Experience: Art therapy and Gestalt. Art as Development: Art therapy and Developmental theories. Art as Telling and Re-telling: Art therapy and Narrative theory. Art as the Positive: Art therapy and positive psychology. Summary of Humanistic Theories. Art as Showing a System: Art therapy and systemic theory. Art as Claiming Space: Art therapy and empowerment. Art as a Space to Fight: Art therapy and social theories. Art as Cultural Values: Art therapy and culture Section 2: Pulling it Together through Theory: Art-Settings-Populations Doing the Art: Setting-Process-Interpretation. Individual, Family, Group, and Community. Deconstructing Populations. Evaluation Supervision and Research.

About the Author :
Dr Ephrat Huss is Senior Lecturer at Ben-Gurion University, Israel, and Chair of the Arts in Social Practice MA specialization. Before this, she worked for many years as a supervising art therapist, family therapist and social worker before turning to research, and still strongly believes in the connection between theory and practice.