Description
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
This is an excellent text book! Material very well written and presented! Plenty of original creative ideas!!
It’s very helpful in setting up new ideas and therapy treatments that can be done through tele-therapy and via video conferences. I would highly recommend it for both professional and personal use.
Cathy Malchiodi is the “grand dame” of art therapy. This is a must-read book for dealing with trauma and incorporating creative expression to resolve deep, inner conflict.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and plan to apply some of the practices myself, as I deal with traumatized adults.
If you are a creative arts therapist, it is well worth your while to purchase this book. Ms Malchiodi brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding about trauma and gives multiple real-life examples of how the arts can be used for healing.