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Whilst this is undoubtedly a specialist book, in so far as it is representative of current thought and practice in art therapy, it is also of relevance to those psychotherapists wh have an interest in non-verbal forms of expression and communication.
Written by a group of seven women, each of whom is an artist, a practitioner and teacher of art therapy, its evolution into book form arose out of two years of meeting together to discuss clinical and professional issues. Each chapter reflects its author's individual standpoint and this makes for a collection of writings which stimulates and tantalises through the glimpses it offers of diverse and complex ideas about art therapy.
Diane Waller, in the final chapter of the book, which is in part concerned with the development of art therapy into a recognised profession, suggests that it is only when such an identity has become securely established, that it becomes possible to enter into an open dialogue concerning the underlying theoretical tenets upon which such a profession is founded. The differences of opinion concerning the balance and tension between Art and Therapy is a live issue within the profession and is addressed by the co-authors of this book.
Dalley opens up this issue in the first chapter by considering the ways in which art therapists’ attitudes influence the centrality of the image to the process of art therapy and she notes the uneasy tensions often present when attempting to reconcile the art process with the process of psychotherapy. Some art therapists are very concerned that there are those who are taking the “art out of art therapy” (p. 3) and that the link between art and psychotherapy is too strong, resulting in a form of “illustrative” (p. 3) therapy in which the patient makes a picutre which may be used only as a vehicle to enhance verbal communication with the therapist. The fear that something of inherent value is lost if too much emphasis is placed on the use of language brings into question ho