Art Therapy and Social Action

Art therapy is a powerful modality that can access imagery directly, thus mediating between conscious and unconscious, and between individual and community. In Art Therapy and Social Action, Frances Kaplan ably documents the new development of art therapy to include social and spiritual awareness by providing clear conceptual frameworks and examples of actual applications in the United Kingdom and the United States. For all those interested in psychotherapy, creativity, and social consciousness, this book will be very valuable. – PsycCritiquesKaplan (art therapy, Marylhurst U.) compiles 14 essays that describe the use of art therapy to address social problems. Contributors, art therapists and artists from the US, Israel, and Canada describe applications and their experiences with programs using art therapy for homelessness, conflict resolution, anger management and aggression, gun violence, trauma, terrorism, and building community. – BooknewsIt is to the credit of the contributors to this book that they have shown that art can not only act as medicine to aid recovery but also as social action to inspire change. – Journal of Social Work PracticeArt Therapy and Social Action is a fascinating collection of essays.The emphasis of the book is to provide professionals such as social workers, counsellors, social activists, therapists and artists with theories and techniques to be more effective in their work while addressing social problems, such as homelessness, conflict resolution, trauma, racism, gun crime and terrorism… this excellent book should make a significant contribution to art therapy practice. – AT NewsbriefingThis exciting an innovative book explores how art therapy techniques can be incorporated by members of helping professionals into their work to deal with social ills. In this way, the practitioner also becomes the social activist. – Therapy TodayThis I believe, is the first book that expands the work of people in the caring professionals to embrace social action. It gives vast opportunities for healing, growth and development to client, practitioner and society. The book is essential reading; it belongs on the bookshelf of counsellors, art therapists, social activists and the like; it belongs on the reading list of courses dealing with human development. Another benefit of this splendid book is that it brings much evidence of the effectiveness of art therapy and other creative therapies. – Liesl Silverstone, Therapy TodayI have searched in vain for a weakness in this book; it abounds with an enormous range of strengths, which were hard to encompass in this short piece. – Liesl Silverstone, Therapy Today

Frances F. Kaplan is an eminent art therapist and teaches graduate art therapy courses at Marylhurst College and Portland State University, both in Oregon. She has published widely, presented at national conferences, and worked for peace organizations.

Lani Gerity worked with dissociative adults for more than a decade in New York and has presented internationally and written on the dissociative patient, and on puppetry with adults. She currently practises art therapy in Ontario, Canada, assists with an art therapy programme for refugee children, serves as a visiting faculty member at New York University, and leads puppet-making workshops.