As the emotional components of physical illnesses become more recognised, there is a renewed interest in the potential of art therapy to help patients come to terms with injury, pain and terminal and life-long conditions. A wide range of experienced art therapists describe their work and its benefits to a variety of groups including those with cancer, debilitating conditions such as myalgic encephalopathy (M.E.) and ulcerative colitis. Physical conditions in combination with other factors such as homelessness or learning disabilities, and children with life-long and chronic conditions are also covered. The book includes discussion of spiritual and philosophical issues when mortality is faced, life change and adjustment issues, practical considerations and which models of practice art therapists find most helpful with various groups. This will be essential reading for arts therapists and students, as well as for professionals with an interest in psychological issues and wellbeing for patients with physical illness or long term conditions, such as psychotherapists and counsellors, complementary therapists, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

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.

First Published in 2012. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This edited book documents how the field of art therapy is taking shape as both a profession and a discipline across Asia. It explores how art therapists in the East are assimilating Western models and adapting them to create unique and inspirational new approaches that both East and West can learn from.

This book focuses on somatic art therapy for treating acute or chronic pain, especially resulting from physical and/or psychological trauma. It discusses the role of the psyche in physical healing and encourages combining of traditional medicine and holistic perspectives in treatment. Translated from the French text, this volume provides case studies and examples from the author’s art psychotherapy practice of 40 years, including the four-quadrants method. Chapters review the current treatments for chronic pain and PTSD and focus on art therapeutic methods to treat those conditions, such as art therapy protocols for PTSD. The book exposes the underlying rational of somatic art therapy, covering art therapy effectiveness, Levine’s somatic dissociation, van der Kolk’s somatic memory, and Scaer’s procedural memory concepts. Also featured are chapter contributions from art therapists Sophie Boudrias, Mylène Piché, and Dr. Patcharin Sughondhabirom. By providing a unique, clear and concise synthesis of available art therapy methods this text will appeal both to the general and professional public, including professional art therapists, psychotherapists, helping relation professionals, and medical practitioners.

"Revised and updated with new exercises"--Cover.