Art Therapy With Special Education Students

Art Therapy with Special Education Students is a practical and innovative book that details the best suitable ways to work in the field of art therapy with special education students. This book provides the reader with practical approaches, techniques, models, and methodologies in art therapy that focus on special education students, such as those with ASD, ADHD, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, and students with visual and hearing impairments. Each chapter addresses a specific population, including an overview of the literature in the field, along with descriptions of practices derived from interviews with experienced art therapists who specialize in each population. The chapters cover the therapeutic goals of each population, the specific challenges, intervention techniques, and the meaning of art. Dedicated working models that have emerged in the field and collaborative interventions involving parents and staff members, along with clinical illustrations, are also available throughout the book. Art therapists and mental health professionals in the school system will appreciate this comprehensive collection of contemporary work in the field of art therapy with special education students.

Art Therapy with Students at Risk: Fostering Resilience and Growth Through Self-Expression reflects the current research, legislation, and trends that impact the theory and practice of art therapy with diverse at-risk student populations. The book is divided into eight chapters and it includes twelve therapeutic techniques. The 12 therapeutic techniques are written in a lesson plan format which provide opportunities for children to express their thoughts and feelings coupled with confirmation that their art is important to them and to others. Chapter 1, “Adolescence,” examines the developmental period between childhood and adulthood. Chapter 2, “Alternative Schools,” describes the development of alternative schools in the United States through legislative reform, education reform, and civil rights. Chapter 3, “Alternative Education,” explores the catalyst for policymakers to make quality education a civil rights issue. Chapter 4, “Emotions and Learning,” investigates the relationship between emotions and learning and the impact of this relationship on academic achievement. Chapter 5, “Multicultural and Diversity Competence,” focuses on the changing demographics in the United States which have significant implications for the art therapy profession. Chapter 6, “From Risk to Resilience,” highlights the paradigm shift in resilience research away from the deficit, pathology-focused model of development, referred to as the Damage Model to the Challenge Model. Chapter 7, “Art Psychotherapy,” provides insight into the unique criteria that distinguishes it from other types of psychotherapy. Chapter 8, “Art Therapy with Students at Risk,” presents a foundational framework for developing and implementing an art therapy program within a traditional or nontraditional learning environment. This book is designed for art therapy students, professional art therapists, educators, administrators, and practitioners in the allied professions of counseling, social work, psychology, prevention, and human services.

The Handbook of Arts Education and Special Education brings together, for the first time in a single reference volume, policy, research, and practices in special education and arts education synthesized to inform stakeholders across a broad spectrum of education. This handbook encompasses arts education for students with disabilities, from pre-K through transition to postsecondary education and careers as well as community arts education, with particular attention to conceptual foundations; research-based practices; professional standards; students’ cognitive, artistic, and social growth; career education; and future directions for research and practice in special education and arts education.

Since the first edition of this book there has been an enormous shift in attitudes toward children with disabilities and a tremendous explosion of information about children, art, art therapy, art education and special education. There is a growing acceptance of the use of art to remediate learning and social problems, to facilitate growth, development and expression in all of us no matter our age or disability. This second edition is for art therapists in training and for in-service professionals in art therapy, art education and special education who have children with disabilities as a part of their case/class load. The book is based on the author's three decades of work with children with visual impairments, hearing impairments, physical disabilities, mental retardation, learning disabilities and behavior disorders/emotional disturbance. A major goal of this edition is to show the many ways that art can be adapted so that ALL children (with or without disabilities) may have a meaningful encounter with art. The book will prepare the reader to understand children, their art, their disabilities and how to adapt art to meet their needs.

Arising from concerns about children presenting behavioural difficulties, this book outlines a number of useful approaches for teachers and others to use with individuals, small groups and classes. Its approach is designed to be used in a variety of settings such as schools, special needs education, counselling, speech therapy and youth work.

In this book Stephanie Bull and Kevin O’Farrell bring together practising clinicians who provide an insight into using contemporary art therapy with people with learning disabilities. The authentic voice of people who have learning disabilities is central to the book, and case examples, snapshots of thoughts, dialogue, photographs and artwork are included to ensure that the subjects' voices are heard. The book covers: having a learning disability loss and bereavement attachment and separation infantilisation fear powerlessness self and identity. This accessible and thought-provoking book is essential reading for anyone involved with people with learning disabilities including art therapists, psychotherapists, counsellors, students and carers.