Scott Alexander's book, "Expressive Arts Education & Therapy," provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of expressive arts therapy and its application in education and therapy. The book is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the theoretical and historical background of expressive arts therapy, and the second part exploring the practical applications of expressive arts therapy in various contexts.
In the first part of the book, Alexander outlines the philosophical underpinnings of expressive arts therapy, emphasizing the importance of creativity, imagination, and play in human development and healing. He also explores the historical roots of expressive arts therapy, tracing its evolution from the early 20th century to the present day, as well as practical applications for its use in various settings. Alexander highlights the contributions of key figures in the field, such as Carl Jung, Rudolf Steiner, and Shaun McNiff, and their respective approaches to expressive arts therapy.
Alexander begins by defining expressive arts, stating that it is "a combination of different art forms used together to express, communicate, and heal" (p. 1). He explains that expressive arts can encompass a variety of modalities, including visual art, music, dance, drama, and poetry. Alexander highlights the importance of the arts as a means of
…show more content…
He states that "expressive arts education and therapy is a holistic approach that honors each individual's unique journey and helps them to access their own inner resources for growth and healing" (p. 121). He also emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of expressive arts therapy, drawing on insights and practices from psychology, art, music, dance, and drama, stressing the importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in working with diverse populations and
This class allows Melinda to get comfortable with expressing her emotions through art. This development eventually leads her to articulating her emotions. Mr. Freeman inspires Melinda through his ways of teaching art and how to express one’s self through
Therapeutic art is used to assist people in understanding who they truly are and how they have grown from their past and any traumatizing experiences they may have experienced previously. Author, Laurie Halse Anderson explains the struggle of being the high school outcast through character Melinda Sordino. Anderson uses Melinda 's evolving tree artwork to symbolize past calamities in Melinda 's life, as well as how Melinda is growing as a character throughout her freshman year of high school. While Melinda is struggling most, she struggles with finishing her trees the way that she wants them to look.
This is a hypothesis I will be testing and analysing throughout the art therapy group I will facilitate with the children in the
I collaborated with occupational therapists, speech therapists, and physiotherapists to provide early intervention care and support to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and Learning Disabilities. I continued working similarly with children in a school as a counselor for four years. I learned about the challenges students face in a mainstream setup that puts emphasis on curriculum based general learning. The students coming to me would actively seek skilled based activities and loved art based tools in their sessions. To enhance my skills and have working tools that included art, I pursued a diploma in Arts Based Therapy.
My own experience in the arts has shown me that arts is important to a child’s education. The arts has helped me grow as a person in multiple ways. Arts has helped me build a creative side, which
Merleau-Ponty, the French philosopher, writes that philosophy is “not the reflection of a pre-existing truth, but, like art, the act of bringing truth into being.” (Merleau-Ponty, 1969) Betensky (1995) wrote "phenomenology offers an answer to a long needed unbiased approach to art therapy in all its spheres: theory, training, and professional practice.” She articulates the importance of 'seeing ' and suggests that this is art therapy 's most important contribution to general therapy and even to phenomenology itself, because art therapy pays attention to the authentic experience in two ways. First of all there is the direct experience of creating art and second of all there is the direct experience of looking at the art. The second direct experience requires some help to learn how to look in order to see all that can be seen in their art expression (Betensky,
Robert Latchman is a 37 year old man who has suffered from learning disabilities and schizophrenia for his whole life. At the age of 19 he was enrolled in an art therapy program called the League of Education and Treatment Center, a nonprofit day program for adults with neurological disabilities. In 2011 Latchman got hit by two cars and had to undergo multiple surgeries to fix the physical damage. But what about his psychological damages? With the help of the art therapy program he became an example of someone who has benefited from the power that the arts hold to heal the mind.
PSYCHOTHERAPY ASSIGNMENT: 1. Effectiveness of play therapy on various psychiatric disorders. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” - Plato Introduction: The Association for Play Therapy defined play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development”
Art therapy is defined as a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of fabricating art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Well known psychologist Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud both had theories of the subconscious and unconscious. They believed that art therapy is based on the premise that images and visuals are the most natural form of communication to humans. The feelings that stem from the subconscious mind are more easily expressed in visuals rather than verbally because people usually cannot explain emotions in such detail. Creative art therapy is offered in many hospitals, outpatient centers, and private practices as a form of depression treatment.
The arts were pushed into a corner, despite being able to help students grow who they are as people, but also help them in other important areas of school. The arts are important in education and should get funding appropriately. Receiving a good education in the arts can greatly help a student’s mental well being. Many students in school are shy, reserved,
Music therapy is regarded as both the evidence-based and clinical use of the interventions of music. The music is used to achieve the individualized set of goals within the spheres of therapeutic relationships by the credentialed professionals who have accomplished approved music therapy programs. There are two techniques and strategies of music therapy ad they include the creative interventions and receptive interventions. In the creative intervention, the client takes a role actively in the sessions of music therapy. The active roles taken by the client include, but are not limited to, drumming and singing.
Introduction Visual and performing arts tend to act as separate entities within the field of education; considerably isolated from the majority of academia, these sectors are often considered to be secondary or elective options after completing primary education. The arts are an essential part of a well-rounded education, however, when an institute begins a budgeting process, the arts are rarely considered a top priority. For example, during periods of recession many public schools within the United Stated were forced to cut visual, performing and musical arts programs, despite studies that proved the exposure to the arts to be beneficial for students both academically and in extracurricular activities. Learning in an art-infused environment
Several of Ward's points argue that through the arts, students are not taught what to think or what to memorize, but they are given the opportunity to interpret things for themselves and create work they are proud of. The arts allow students to express
In the early years of education, the Performing Arts assume a particular significance as learning is both in and through the Arts. When appropriately managed, they are enjoyed in their own right, but also permeate other areas of the curriculum enabling greater relevance and meaning. The Performing Arts are an excellent means through which children, in their early years of schooling explore and express their feelings. Dance, drama and music are Arts disciplines through which children investigate ideas and exhibit opinions about their known and unknown world. The Performing Arts make an effective contribution to the personal and social development of children.
People say that spending money on arts in education is a waste of resources. This article states, “The academic benefits of art education are unproven”(See). Although, there are many examples and observations of art improving the education of a child and helping them to focus their attention to the task at hand. It is also stated, “Listening to music, however, does not seem to have a positive impact. Or at least there is no evidence to suggest that it does.