Spider Man and the Green Lantern are not the first images that most people conjure up when someone mentions "important art." In the world of fine art, comic books are often viewed as the bottom rung of the artistic ladder. In the early half of the 1900s, such an assessment would not have been unreasonable. With their rudimentary visuals and…

This article relates recent findings in neuropsychology to the practice of art therapy. Based on published literature and the author?s experiences as a therapist, it illustrates how knowledge of neurological functioning can be used to therapeutic advantage with art therapy clients. Case examples reveal that providing clients with a basic…

This paper explores findings from the fields of neuropsychology and art therapy as they relate to treating patients with dementia. It explains the biological, physical, and psychological manifestations of dementia, and current treatment modalities. Art therapy has been shown to be beneficial to patients with dementia. Unfortunately, it is the rare…

Although the number of women entering prison has continued to soar over the last 2 decades, little attention has been paid to them in health care research. Research with incarcerated women who are grieving has received even less attention. This pilot study was based on the results of previous studies as well as the authors? combined clinical…

This article introduces a conceptual framework that integrates art therapy and social action. The author uses a transpersonal model of the human psyche and an interdependent paradigm of the self and views personal psychological experiences and external societal structures as entwined in a cocreative, mutually dependent relationship. From this…

Literature has indicated that there are many factors involved in career selection, including personality, family background, gender, cultural background, and values. This study was designed to investigate commonalties of individuals who pursued art therapy as a career. A questionnaire randomly distributed to 500 credentialed professional members…

This report addresses several educators' attempts to prepare their students for entering the "real" art therapy world. Two important components necessary to prepare students for entering the professional arenas are introduced: the need to translate theory into practice and the ability to communicate and negotiate with other helping professionals.…

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of technology on art therapists by exploring how art therapists own and use technology and to determine barriers to ownership and use. A survey was conducted at the 2002 annual conference of the American Art Therapy Association in Washington, DC. Of the 250 surveys distributed, 195 were…

Despite voluminous literature on trauma, studies on specific trauma and art expression remain sparse. Recurring graphic forms produced by sexual abuse victims have appeared in art therapy publications dating back to Naumburg (1958), but links between sexual abuse-assault and recurring graphic forms were not considered. In 1973, this author began a…

This paper explores intersections among art, action, and community. It describes sociopolitical aspects of the author's art therapy work with survivors of repressive regimes living in Brazil, China, and Denmark and considers ways that unique historical and social processes influenced her conceptualization and practice of social action art therapy.

Professional identity is a term used to describe both the collective identity of a profession and an individual's own sense of the professional role. This article draws from the literature exploring professional identity with attention to the issues of developing professional identity in fields such as art therapy where lower wages, fewer jobs,…

Oncology nurses are particularly vulnerable to "burnout" syndrome due to the intensity of their work and the ongoing losses they experience while providing oncology care to their patients. High levels of stress in the workplace left untended lead to high job turnover, poor productivity, and diminished quality of care for patients.…

The purpose of art therapy supervision in an educational setting has traditionally been seen as an opportunity to help interns adjust to and learn from their placement sites, understand their clients, develop an understanding of themselves in relation to their work, and translate theory into practice (Dye & Borders, 1990; Hawkins & Shoret, 1989;…

This article presents the art therapy treatment of a 6-yearold boy diagnosed with autism without mental retardation. Children create art and draw because it is rooted in the need to relate to their world (Horovitz, Lewis, & Luca, 1967). However, children with autism have difficulty relating (Green & Luce, 1996). This case study explores the value…

This paper explores what art therapists can learn from career counseling and how to apply and adapt these strategies with recent art therapy graduates who are looking for a job postgraduation. Art therapists are a distinct group of career-counseling consumers because they face unique challenges in the job market, including changing health care…