There are few who would disagree with the importance of stories and personal narratives in art therapy. Most art therapists seek to elicit them from their clients. They see it as their responsibility to honor each individual story, help integrate it where it is disconnected, and guide clients to illustrate these narratives in a manner that allows…

In this art therapy adaptation of the squiggle technique, the client draws eight colored squiggles on a paper folded into eight frames and then develops them into images utilizing a full range of color. The client is encouraged to write titles on each frame and use them to compose a story. This technique often stimulates emergence of meaningful…

Describes a sculpture project for emotionally disturbed children conducted by a New York artist. (SJL)

Describes the strategies used in a practice of art therapy on the pediatric unit of a large, teaching hospital for children, illustrating points with case material. Strategies include assessment rounds to evaluate which children could benefit from art therapy, stressing staff communications, and circumventing problems resulting from illness which…

Adolescents who have suffered the trauma of incest or rape often search for inner resolution amidst a society that can be more rejecting than comforting. Therapists need to be aware of issues specific to this population, as well as societal influences that impact recovery. Describes the components of an adolescent art therapy group for female…

A decrease in the average stay in mental health programs has changed the delivery of art therapy services. Article presents strategies for utilizing six prestructured art elements (magazine pictures, magazine words, photocopied images, cut and torn paper, traced shapes, and partial drawings) as a means of addressing these trends. Treatment sources…

After the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on 9/11/01, New York's art therapy community found itself faced with difficult political, professional, and emotional challenges. As volunteerism across this country responded to the need for assistance, many New York art therapists were on the front lines of a wounded and frightened city while…

Anthroposophy has made the spiritual a living experience by producing numerous practical applications, such as veil painting, initially created by Liane Collot d'Herbois (1988). Its theoretical framework has been substantially simplified by the author and crucial meditative and contemplative steps have been added. European and American…

The contributions of art therapy to the education of emotionally disturbed students is illustrated via two case studies. Recommendations for using art therapy techniques in the classroom are offered, including encouraging release of feelings through drawing and sharing the pictures with the child's therapist or art therapist. (CL)

The article describes the art therapy program for the mentally handicapped at St. Lawrence's Hospital in England. The program, which also serves those retarded patients who are physically handicapped, functions as a diagnosic and assessment aid, direct therapeutic aid, part of an integrated treatment program, means of employment for some patients,…

Proposes the use of a carefully chosen mix of expressive, narrative, explorative, management, and integrative art interventions to address six basic trauma-focused tasks: safety planning, self-management, telling the trauma story, and relational-development. Suggestions for working with adult clients, along with specific examples of art…

Provides theoretical, historical, and professional examination of the art as therapy approach and art psychotherapy. States that responsive art making is helpful in establishing empathic relationships with adolescents, in providing art therapists with an expressive outlet for the potent feelings that arise in the clinical context, and in forming a…

Addresses art therapy for homebound people, giving special attention to the set of needs for this environment; the desired personality traits of the in-home therapist; the structure of the therapeutic relationship; and appropriate art therapy goals. Presents two case studies of home-bound art therapy which demonstrate the complexities and…

Describes a method for using art therapy with adolescents in crisis. The model defines four trauma stages and associated art therapy goals. Presents an example of the model through a case study, including the art therapy approaches and method for assessing the art work and art processes. Proposes that hope is experienced through art and generative…

This paper explores findings from the fields of neuropsychology and art therapy as they relate to treating patients with dementia. It explains the biological, physical, and psychological manifestations of dementia, and current treatment modalities. Art therapy has been shown to be beneficial to patients with dementia. Unfortunately, it is the rare…