Handbook of Expressive Arts Therapy

This authoritative and comprehensive volume explains how to integrate movement, sound, art, play, imagery, drama, and other multisensory practices into psychotherapy. Cathy Malchiodi and other leading experts demonstrate ways to combine a wide range of expressive approaches to help clients explore somatic awareness, feelings, and thoughts that are often difficult to access verbally. Rich case examples illustrate what these modalities look like in action, providing practitioners with strategies they can readily apply in work with individuals of all ages. The book interweaves theory and research with practical recommendations for implementing expressive arts therapy to enhance communication and to support regulation, attachment, trauma recovery, and sensory integration.

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Circle of CapacityModel

"Neurobiology has taught us that we need to “come to our senses” in developing effective components for addressing trauma...Expressive arts therapy releases the potential of the senses to “tell the story” of traumatic experiences via nonverbal, implicit forms of communication."
"Expressive arts help people discover just what forms of expression will be self-regulating, communicate their experiences in reparative ways, imagine restorative narratives, and ultimately support recovery."
"The expressive arts have a unique role in restoring a sense of vitality and joy in traumatized individuals because aliveness is not something we can be “talked into.” Instead, it is experienced in both mind and body and particularly on a somatosensory level." 

Praise ForHandbook of Expressive Arts Therapy

Ruth A. Lanius, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, Canada
“Malchiodi and colleagues elegantly describe how expressive arts therapy can facilitate healing of brain, mind, and body, by fostering social connection, emotion regulation, rhythm, and play. These approaches have been used for centuries and have the ability to aid in healing traumatized individuals and communities. A 'must read'!”
Dee C. Ray, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, Regents Professor in Counseling and Higher Education, and Director, Center for Play Therapy, University of North Texas
“A comprehensive guide to understanding the breadth and depth of expressive arts as a mental health intervention. Malchiodi has brought together a team of experts who lead the reader through the rationale for expressive arts therapy from multiple theoretical frameworks and applied to multiple populations. Contributors give particular attention to current issues related to interpersonal neurobiology, social justice, and trauma. The clinical illustrations bring the interventions to life and help readers fully appreciate the difference that expressive arts therapy can make for clients.”
Raphael Travis Jr., LCSW, DrPH, Professor and MSW Program Director, Texas State University School of Social Work
“This powerfully informative handbook provides more than core expressive arts principles and methodologies—we also see how expressive approaches are integrated into a range of therapies. Chapters by premier practitioners consistently emphasize how the expressive arts are strengths based, action oriented, and attentive to the mind and body. The book is filled with real-world implementation strategies, best-practice principles, case examples, and important consideration of individual, group, and family contexts. It is tremendously helpful in moving the reader beyond abstract theory to step-by-step methods of facilitation with clients.”
Nisha Sajnani, PhD, RDT-BCT, Director of Drama Therapy, New York University
“This book offers an essential introduction to principles of expressive arts therapy and brings together stellar contributors who are recognized authorities in their areas of expertise. Each chapter provides relevant illustrative examples of how the arts may be used to find relief, meaning, agency, and vitality. This handbook is an indispensable resource for all helping professionals interested in how to integrate various forms of expression within psychotherapy.”

Table ofContents

I. Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy

1. What is Expressive Arts Therapy? — Cathy A. Malchiodi

2. Frameworks for Expressive Arts Therapy — Cathy A. Malchiodi

3. Attunement in Expressive Arts: Attachment, Rhythm, Resonance, and Embodied Empathy — Mitchell Kossak

4. Bridging Arts and Science in Expressive Arts Therapy — Patricia Leavy

 

II. Core Practices and Methodology

5. The Integrative Process of Expressive Arts Therapy — Karen Estrella

6. Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy — Sue Ann Herron

7. Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy — Laury Rappaport

8. Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy — Cathy A. Malchiodi

9. Playing through an Expressive Lens — Renee Turner

10. Narrative Expressive Arts Therapy — Shoshana Simons

11. Expressive Arts Therapy and Mindfulness — Karin von Daler

 

III. Integrating the Expressive Arts in Therapy

12. Sandtray and Expressive Arts in Child Psychotherapy: Using Play as a Neural Exercise — Theresa Kestly

13. Bilateral Body Mapping with Guided Drawing — Cornelia Elbrecht

14. Meeting the Moment: Music Therapy as Part of Arts-Focused Hospice Care — Laura E. Beer

15. Polyvagal-Informed Dance/Movement Therapy: Dance and Music on the Creative Continuum with Survivors of Trauma — Amber Elizabeth L. Gray

16. The Dancing Mindfulness Approach to Expressive Arts Therapy: Trauma-Focused Solutions for Group and Individual Settings — Jamie Marich

17. Integrative Drama Therapy in the Treatment of Trauma: Matching Aesthetic Properties to Patient Needs — Craig Haen

18. Integrating Creative Writing and Expressive Arts — Suzan Lemont

Do you want to know more about this book and the field of expressive arts therapy? Download this free chapter here.

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