A classic in the field & one which may have inspired many to become art therapists, this eminently readable volume is ideal for acquainting students with some of the fundamental ideas in the field. Subjects such as a sense of identity, feelings of emptiness, interpretation of reality, ambivalence, aggression, defenses, & sublimation are discussed as Edith Kramer's eloquent words capture the interplay between child, artwork & therapist, bringing to life the fast-moving events in an artroom peopled by emotionally disturbed children. Kramer has a deep knowledge of psychoanalysis, skill & intuition as an artist & the humane love of a born teacher. In one reviewer's opinion, her book's discussion of sublimination, art & defense, aggression & the role of the art therapist have not been surpassed by later volumes or other authors. Richly documented with case material & abundantly illustrated, this book offers inspiration not only to fledgling clinicians, but to any one working with children who wishes to understand how & why art can have such a profound effect. Edith Kramer is a practicing artist & educator who has worked with disturbed, handicapped & normal children in a variety of settings. She is currently adjunct professor of art therapy at NYU.

Drawing on case material from a variety of situations, the book describes medical research on medical art therapy with children, and practical approaches to using art activities with them. The text looks at children with burns, HIV, asthma and cancer.

Art therapy with infants, toddlers and their families is an exciting and developing area of practice. With contributions from Australia, the United Kingdom and Spain, Art Therapy in the Early Years has an international flavour. The authors describe clinical art psychotherapy practice with children under five and their families in settings that include children in care, mental health clinics, paediatric wards, pre-schools, and early intervention programs. Divided into three sections, Art Therapy in the Early Years presents different clinical environments in which art psychotherapy with this client group is found: • individual art therapy; • group art therapy; • parent-child dyad and family art therapy. The book proposes that within these different contexts, the adaptive possibilities inherent in art psychotherapy provide opportunities for therapeutic growth for young children and their families. Art Therapy in the Early Years will be of interest to art therapists working with children; students and practitioners from creative arts therapies; psychologists and psychotherapists; social workers; pre-school teachers; child psychiatrists, clinical supervisors, and other professionals working in the early years settings.

Includes contributions from major public agencies for child care: health, education, and social services Covers areas of public concern such as child abuse and racial discrimination Gives examples of using different art media, for example, photography, to explore symbolic material All case material illustrated in colour and black and white.

Combining detailed case material and over 80 examples of patients' work, the author describes how the symbolic image and the style in which it is represented often relate to a particular stage in the integration of painful experiences. As the image and the style change, so does the individual, who discovers previously untapped sources of creativity and inner strength. Drawing on theoretical insights of Jung, Balint, Milner, Winnicott and others, R. M. Simon brings to life the different ways in which patients experience art therapy and the shifting role of the therapist responding to their needs.

Even in the face of challenging conditions, art therapy treatment offers meaningful opportunities for growth. It’s not always easy, though, to navigate the complex interplay of art processes, relational states, and developmental theories. For any clinician looking for guidance on the ins and outs of using art therapy with children, there is no better resource than The Practitioner’s Guide to Child Art Therapy. Both graduate students and professionals will find its pages replete with strategies for developing engaging and effective tools for understanding children’s creative expression and applying this understanding toward treatment. Clinically relevant and theoretically sound, this book synthesizes the best of the literature on art development, art therapy and child development, while emphasizing the powerful role of art media in fostering creativity and relational growth. Compelling case material and numerous art examples illustrate psychosocial, neurobiological, and attachment theories as well as practical applications, including working with attachment disruptions, anxiety, grief, parental conflict, economic poverty, chemical dependency, child abuse, and autism spectrum disorder.

Interventions and approaches from the expressive arts and play therapy disciplines Integrating Expressive Arts and Play Therapy With Children and Adolescents presents techniques and approaches from the expressive and play therapy disciplines that enable child and adolescent clinicians to augment their therapeutic toolkit within a competent, research-based practice. With contributions representing a "who's who" in the play therapy and expressive arts therapy worlds, Integrating Expressive Arts and Play Therapy With Children and Adolescents is the definitive bridge between expressive arts and play therapy complementarily utilized with children and adolescents in their healing and creative capacities.