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 (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.

Arts and crafts were one of the very first therapies employed by occupational therapists. Today, crafts are still employed as effective interventions for clients with mental health disorders, physical dysfunctions, cognitive issues, and sensory concerns in hospitals, outpatient clinics, veterans’ centers, schools, skilled nursing facilities, or community settings. Step by step, the authors show you how to use a wide-range of novel, and highly engaging crafts. They explain how to connect the key tasks associated with an activity to functional outcomes, and how to modify them to meet the specific needs of individual patients. They also address the issues of documentation, and reimbursement.

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.

Throughout history, people have used craft to express themselves, to build community, and even to resist social and political oppression. Many of these goals align closely with the practices of art therapists who claim emancipatory aims for their work. Despite this alignment, the benefits of craft—both its individual therapeutic impact and its ability to serve a community-building function—are underrepresented in the art therapy literature. Although the art therapy field is increasingly addressing social action, the focus is often on the therapists as activists; examining what happens when art therapy participants themselves are or become change agents is an unexplored perspective. This dissertation describes a participatory action research project that investigated the potential therapeutic benefits of “craftivism” (craft used for activist purposes) for art therapy participants in community-based practice. Seven women of color participants, almost all of whom were seniors, created a collaborative quilt and engaged in critical dialogue circles with the primary investigator in ongoing arts-based data analysis. The knowledge generated by the group is being disseminated to their community and beyond through a variety of presentations. The study demonstrated that when used in a community-based art therapy setting, craftivism built individuals’ capacity to address issues that affect their communities through: (a) expressing social realities, (b) building community, (c) accessing art and social action, (d) pacing social interaction and reflection, (e) crossing boundaries, (f) being subversive, (g) being awakened and awakening others, and (h) creating a forum for speaking and being heard.

one of very few books that deal with the electronic media in art therapy editor and contributors are top scholars in the field

This text offers a complete description of all crafts traditionally used for therapeutic purposes, along with the historical & anthropological background of these crafts. Crafts in Therapy & Rehabilitation covers a multitude of traditional & nontraditional crafts with easy-to-read instructions. A variety of situations are presented-from acute inpatient care to home health & long-term outpatient treatment. These issues are presented within the context of occupational therapy clinical theories. This second edition of Crafts in Therapy & Rehabilitation includes two new chapters, one on uniform terminology related to crafts, & one on found materials appropriate for home health care. Other changes include rewritten chapters on theories, current uses of computer technology, & the inclusion of theoretical models in case studies. An instructor's manual has been written for optimal student-instructor discussions.

The Art and Art Therapy of Papermaking: Material, Methods, and Applications provides a comprehensive collection about the contemporary practices, media, and value of hand papermaking as social engagement, art therapy, and personal voice. Divided into three parts that highlight each of these areas, contributors explore topics such as advocacy, work with survivors, community outreach, medical challenges, and how papermaking can empower creative expression, stories of change, recovery, and reclamation to address trauma, grief and loss, social action, and life experiences. Previous books have covered hand papermaking or art therapy media as stand-alone subjects; this text is the first of its kind that unites and describes the convergence of papermaking in all these forms. Art therapists, art educators, and artists will find this book essential to their education about how papermaking can be a powerful process to make meaning for the self, groups, and community.

This book provides a narrative exploration of community art therapy woven from its rich practice roots, theory, the multiple ways that it can be applied in practice, and through practitioner reflections. The applications of community art therapy are numerous, and this book provides knowledge to practitioners, guiding them in their own work and grounding their theoretical approaches. The community approaches presented in the text have been developed through careful research, strategy, and implementation. Community Art Therapy is for the benefit of art therapists, community artists and psychologists, and anyone interested in learning more about the stories of community art therapy.

Art Therapy and Social Action is an exciting exploration of how professionals can incorporate the techniques and approaches of art therapy to address social problems. Leading art therapists and other professionals show how creative methods can be used effectively to resolve conflicts, manage aggression, heal trauma and build communities.

This book shows how art therapists can use found objects in their work with clients. Found objects can be a highly affordable, imaginative and creative way of working, and are particularly effective when working with marginalised populations and clients who have experienced trauma. This edited collection contains chapters from a wide variety of contributors from around the world and covers a vast array of topics, including the use of found objects in clinical settings, community and art practice, pedagogy and self-care. This is the ideal resource for any art therapist wishing to explore the use of this non-traditional medium to enrich their practice.