Craft in Art Therapy

Craft in Art Therapy is the first book dedicated to illustrating the incorporation of craft materials and methods into art therapy theory and practice.

Contributing authors provide examples of how they have used a range of crafts including pottery, glass work, textiles (sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, and quilting), paper (artist books, altered books, book binding, origami, and zines), leatherwork, and Indian crafts like mendhi and kolam/rangoli in their own art and self-care, and in individual, group, and community art therapy practice. The book explores the therapeutic benefits of a range of craft materials and media, as well as craft’s potential to build community, to support individuals in caring for themselves and each other, and to play a valuable role in art therapy practice.

Craft in Art Therapy demonstrates that when practiced in a culturally sensitive and socially conscious manner, craft practices are more than therapeutic—they also hold transformational potential.

“Anyone interested in the use of craft practices in therapy will be thrilled to discover the dynamic collection of chapters found in this book! Lauren Leone has edited a must-read text that delves into the processes, practices, and politics of crafting. The authors raise critical questions for art therapists interested in expanding their understanding of traditional and contemporary crafts as vehicles for personal, interpersonal, and social transformation. Catherine Hyland Moon, MA, ATR-BC, professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and editor of Materials and Media in Art Therapy: Critical Understandings of Diverse Artistic Vocabularies. Lauren Leone is a gifted writer/editor, art therapist, and fiber artist whose collection disrupts the notion that only the fine arts media are used by art therapists. This engaging, enjoyable book connects craft history with a wide variety of craft media to inform art therapy practice and research. The book's authors bring unique, personal examples from their own experiences and approaches to craft, layering historical and contemporary craft practices with personal, clinical, and activist applications. Craft in Art Therapy should be required reading for all art therapy curricula. Holly Feen-Calligan, PhD, ATR-BC, associate professor of Art Therapy, Wayne State University.”

Anyone interested in the use of craft practices in therapy will be thrilled to discover the dynamic collection of chapters found in this book! Lauren Leone has edited a must-read text that delves into the processes, practices, and politics of crafting. The authors raise critical questions for art therapists interested in expanding their understanding of traditional and contemporary crafts as vehicles for personal, interpersonal, and social transformation.

Catherine Hyland Moon, MA, ATR-BC, professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and editor of Materials and Media in Art Therapy: Critical Understandings of Diverse Artistic Vocabularies.

Lauren Leone is a gifted writer/editor, art therapist, and fiber artist whose collection disrupts the notion that only the fine arts media are used by art therapists. This engaging, enjoyable book connects craft history with a wide variety of craft media to inform art therapy practice and research. The book’s authors bring unique, personal examples from their own experiences and approaches to craft, layering historical and contemporary craft practices with personal, clinical, and activist applications. Craft in Art Therapy should be required reading for all art therapy curricula.

Holly Feen-Calligan, PhD, ATR-BC, associate professor of Art Therapy, Wayne State University.

"Anyone interested in the use of craft practices in therapy will be thrilled to discover the dynamic collection of chapters found in this book! Lauren Leone has edited a must-read text that delves into the processes, practices, and politics of crafting. The contributors raise critical questions for art therapists interested in expanding their understanding of traditional and contemporary crafts as vehicles for personal, interpersonal, and social transformation."

Catherine Hyland Moon, MA, ATR-BC, professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and editor of Materials and Media in Art Therapy: Critical Understandings of Diverse Artistic Vocabularies

"Lauren Leone is a gifted writer/editor, art therapist, and fiber artist whose collection disrupts the notion that only the fine arts media are used by art therapists. This engaging, enjoyable book connects craft history with a wide variety of craft media to inform art therapy practice and research. The book’s contributors bring unique, personal examples from their own experiences and approaches to craft, layering historical and contemporary craft practices with personal, clinical, and activist applications. Craft in Art Therapy should be required reading for all art therapy curricula."

Holly Feen-Calligan, PhD, ATR-BC, associate professor of Art Therapy, Wayne State University

Lauren Leone, DAT, ATR-BC, LMHC, is an assistant professor of art therapy at Lesley University, maintains a private practice, and facilitates a community-based art therapy group. Her research interests include the therapeutic benefits of craft activism and how emancipatory pedagogy informs art therapy practice and education.

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