Expressive And Creative Arts Methods For Trauma Survivors

'With the increasing probability of floods, wars, and human displacement, there will be a great need for health care professionals to help. The arts provide a new, human, and cost-effective way to bring relief and to ease some of the human suffering associated with trauma.The editor, Lois Carey, presents a compelling rationale for the use of the arts therapies to work with trauma. First, it is now clear that traumatized children have difficulty using words to describe their experience. Drawing, play, music and other creative forms allow for an indirect expression that reduces anxiety, and they also help to establish a therapeutic relationship and an area of safety. The same is true for traumatized adults, who are often nonverbal... this book can be a beginning of much-needed documentation of the use of the expressive arts methods for trauma survivors and will provide a significant and useful introduction to the field for health professionals.' - PsycCRITIQUES 'I think the descriptions of the methods are interesting and they show a lot of experience in the field of trauma-treatment. It is a well written, very readable book of the practice.' -Tijdschrift voor Vaktherapie (Journal of Therapy) 'This book throws more light on different expressive and creative arts methods in the treatment of trauma. In detailed case studies and research, the authors offer an overview of creative arts methods aiming at brain functions which are not always being reached by verbal therapy alone.' -Tijdschrift voor Vaktherapie (Journal of Therapy) 'The authors use a rich mix of interesting case material and useful explanation of the techniques for the uninitiated.' - Therapy Today 'A very good job of promoting the use of expressive arts therapy to complement talking therapies and achieve results that talking therapy cannot.' - Play Therapy UK 'If you are a parent, dealing daily with the effects of traumatised children, and especially finding it difficult to firstly access specialist therapy and secondly to understand the principles in relation to your child, then this book will give you a clear understanding of the aims and outcomes of therapies which may be on offer.' - www.adoption-net.co.uk Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors demonstrates how play, art, and music therapies, as well as sandplay, psychodrama and storytelling, can be used to aid the recovery of trauma victims. Drawing on detailed case studies and a growing body of evidence of the benefits of non-verbal therapies, the contributors-all leading practitioners in their fields-provide an overview of creative therapies that tap into sensate aspects of the brain not always reached by verbal therapy alone. Methods of exploring traumatic experiences with a view to limiting patients' distress are also explored. The techniques discussed are appropriate for work with children, families and groups and are based on established approaches, including Jungian, Child-centred, Gestalt and Freudian theories. Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors will be an enlightening read for expressive and specialized arts therapists and for students and academics in these fields.

Drawing on detailed case studies and a growing body of evidence of the benefits of non-verbal therapies, the contributors - all leading practitioners in their fields - provide an overview of creative therapies that tap into sensate aspects of the brain not always reached by verbal therapy alone.

Expressive and Creative Arts Methods for Trauma Survivors demonstrates how play, art, and music therapies, as well as sandplay, psychodrama and storytelling, can be used to aid the recovery of trauma victims. Drawing on detailed case studies and a growing body of evidence of the benefits of non-verbal therapies, the contributors - all leading practitioners in their fields - provide an overview of creative therapies that tap into sensate aspects of the brain not always reached by verbal therapy alone. Methods of exploring traumatic experiences with a view to limiting patients' distress are also.

"Psychological trauma can be a life-changing experience that affects multiple facets of health and well-being. The nature of trauma is to impact the mind and body in unpredictable and multidimensional ways. It can be a highly subjective that is difficult or even impossible to explain with words. It also can impact the body in highly individualized ways and result in complex symptoms that affect memory, social engagement, and quality of life. While many people overcome trauma with resilience and without long term effects, many do not. Trauma's impact often requires approaches that address the sensory-based experiences many survivors report. The expressive arts therapy-the purposeful application of art, music, dance/movement, dramatic enactment, creative writing and imaginative play-are largely non-verbal ways of self-expression of feelings and perceptions. More importantly, they are action-oriented and tap implicit, embodied experiences of trauma that can defy expression through verbal therapy or logic. Based on current evidence-based and emerging brain-body practices, there are eight key reasons for including expressive arts in trauma intervention, covered in this book: (1) letting the senses tell the story; (2) self-soothing mind and body; (3) engaging the body; (4) enhancing nonverbal communication; (5) recovering self-efficacy; (6) rescripting the trauma story; (7) making meaning; and (8) restoring aliveness"--

Rich with case material and artwork samples, this volume demonstrates a range of creative approaches for facilitating children's emotional reparation and recovery from trauma. Contributors include experienced practitioners of play, art, music, movement and drama therapies, bibliotherapy, and integrative therapies, who describe step-by-step strategies for working with individual children, families, and groups. The case-based format makes the book especially practical and user-friendly. Specific types of stressful experiences addressed include parental loss, child abuse, accidents, family violence, bullying, and mass trauma. Broader approaches to promoting resilience and preventing posttraumatic problems in children at risk are also presented.

A resource for arts therapists and other clinicians on working with people who have committed sexual offences. There is a strong focus on the value of establishing a therapeutic relationship involving non-verbal media as a cornerstone, drawing upon current research and practice. Emphasis is placed on working with transference and counter-transference, being trauma-informed, and making use of effective supervision. This group of offenders can benefit hugely from the provision of arts therapies, and this book provides valuable experiences of working with people who have committed sexual offences.

This book is a useful reference for anyone seeking to provide therapy to survivors of sexual abuse. The approach represented here is a holistic one that utilizes various approaches to heal the various manifestations of sexual abuse trauma. Since the acts associated with such abuse are often so difficult to discuss, this book presents several methods of communicating these unspeakable horrors nonverbally, allowing the survivor to express their trauma with less difficulty. This approach seeks to use the actions of the body to heal the mind. This text contains information relevant to treatment for children, adolescents, and adults, as well as male or female, and in group or individual settings. Many useful activities are outlined and illustrations are provided as examples.

This book vividly shows how creative arts and play therapy can help children recover from experiences of disrupted or insecure attachment. Leading practitioners explore the impact of early relationship difficulties on children's emotions and behavior. Rich case material brings to life a range of therapeutic approaches that utilize art, music, movement, drama, creative writing, and play. The volume covers ways to address attachment issues with individuals of different ages, as well as their caregivers. Chapters clearly explain the various techniques and present applications for specific populations, including complex trauma survivors.