Full Description
Art Therapy with People with Learning Disabilities brings together diverse, international contributions from practitioners, researchers and clients within the field of art therapy to inform best practice when working with people with learning disabilities. Focusing on four core themes - justice, agency, advocacy and connection - this engaging volume invites readers into the transformative world of art therapy, where creativity serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and positive change.
Emphasising the voices and experiences of individuals with learning disabilities, many chapters are co-authored with clients who bring invaluable lived experience, which offers readers a fresh perspective on art therapy in practice. These insights are woven together in a rich tapestry of case studies, intervention descriptions and consideration of therapist positionality to illustrate how art therapy can empower people with learning disabilities.
Readers will gain practical insights, evidence-based approaches and a variety of creative techniques that can be applied to both clinical and research settings. This book demonstrates how art therapy facilitates self-expression and fosters personal agency, making it a compelling read for both new and seasoned art therapists alike. It will also resonate with educators and healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their understanding and application of inclusive art therapy practices across a range of health, social care and educational settings.
Contents
Section 0: Introduction
0. Power & Hackett - Disrupting Narratives: The Role of Diverse Voices in Co‑Creating Change in Art Therapy
Section 01: Justice
1. Royster - Deconstructing Blackness in Disability: Co-creating Freedom Spaces in Schools & Community
2. Benton, Batt & Sage - Justice: Art therapy, Power, and Change
3. Ashby & Mander - Everyday Trauma
Section 02: Agency
4. Jerwood et al. - Doing Things Differently: Working Together to Talk More about Death and Dying: The No Barriers Here Approach
5. Rossi - Self-Doubt and the Art of Listening: A Story about Geoffrey
6. King - Finding Connection through Group Art Therapy and "Being in a Book"
7. Gentle & Calhoun - "Art saved my life; it saved my life": How Art-making Creates Connection and Builds Resilience
Section 03: Advocacy
8. Harrison & Lizzy - Advocacy and Art Therapy: "It helped me piece together what happened"
9. Koizumi - Finding Connection Using Attachment‑Based Art Psychotherapy in Secure Care: My Experience of Working with a Young Man with Limited Verbal Communication in Long‑Term Segregation
10. Rose - The Creative Corridor: A Transitional Space between Arts Therapy and Educational Creative Practice
Section 04: Connections
11. Ahmed - Creating a Bridge between Clinical and Community Space: A Collaborative Project to Support Belonging for People with Learning Disabilities between Art therapy and an Art gallery
12. Ng & Kwan - Frames of Identity: Unveiling Life Stories of People with Down Syndrome through Art Therapy and Reminiscence
13. Burns, Meakins & Newcombe - How Do We Hear the Voice Behind the Smile? Group Art Therapy Coming Out of a Coronavirus Pandemic Lockdown
14. Hewitt-Parsons - Revising the Rules of Social Interaction: Stories of Power, Inclusion, and Why I Don't Have a Mustache
Section 05: Conclusion
15. Hackett & Power - Bridging Practice and Research: Art Therapy with Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities
