Milia examines the effect of art therapy interventions with clients who harm their bodies. Demonstrating how these theories can be implemented in practice, Milia describes examples from her clinical experience, and includes case studies. Her practical book extends our understanding of the self-mutilation concept and how best it may be addressed.
This research addresses the phenomenon of self-mutilation, as practiced by adolescents and adults living in contemporary Western society, as found in the imagery of clients in art therapy, and as performed by artists as part of their body of work. Literature on self-mutilation in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and art therapy is compared to and contrasted with art historical literature on a selection of contemporary performance artists using self-mutilation in their work. The principle aim of this research is to examine the motivations and functions of self-mutilation performed in the contexts of pathology and of performance art. The subsidiary aim of this research is to investigate the relationship between the actor and the viewer, be it the performance artist and the audience, or the client and the therapist. This study uses a theoretical methodology in order to review divergent discourses on acts of self-mutilation performed within different contexts, in the hopes of finding interrelationships between them, thereby contributing to a new perspective on the subject relevant to the field of art therapy. Treatment implications for art therapists explored in this study include the way in which the art making process may aid in overcoming the obstacle of therapist counter-transference towards self-mutilating clients, and facilitate the resolution of unconsciously driven acting out behavior. The relationship between self-mutilation and ritual informs a discussion on the parallels between ritual space, contained within established cultural boundaries, and transitional space, contained within the art therapeutic frame, and how both offer conditions favorable for transformation.
Abstract: Self-mutilation has been described as being one of the most difficult issues to address in therapy, and as one of the most traumatic and emotionally draining for the therapist. It is most common in teenage girls and women, and often emerges during adolescence. It often becomes a lifelong problem for many individuals, with treatment being difficult to find for these individuals. Many therapists will turn them away, or the client may be embarrassed or reluctant to seek treatment. There are various emotions that accompany this behavior, as well as additional high risk behaviors that must be addressed in treatment. Among treatment options available to these individuals is art therapy. It addresses the nonverbal level of communication that these individuals feel, and then encourages verbal associations to images. It is less threatening and empowers the individual by giving them control over their creative expression. Two case studies are presented, demonstrating the effectiveness of art therapy with self-mutilating adolescents in residential treatment. It has enabled them to become more active participants in their treatment and encouraged verbal processing and associations to images, revealing repressed feelings and traumatic experiences.
Edith Kramer is one of the pioneers in the field of art therapy, known and respected throughout the world. This collection of papers reflects her lifetime of work in this field, showing how her thoughts and practice have developed over the years. She considers a wide spectrum of issues, covering art, art therapy, society, ethology and clinical practice and placing art therapy in its social and historical context. Drawing on her very considerable personal experience as an art therapist, Kramer illustrates her conviction that art making is central to practice and cautions against making words primary and art secondary in art therapy. Art as Therapy offers a rare insight into the personal development of one of the world's leading art therapists and the development of art therapy as a profession. It will make fascinating reading for anyone interested in art therapy.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a baffling, troubling, and hard to treat phenomenon that has increased markedly in recent years. Key issues in diagnosing and treating NSSI adequately include differentiating it from attempted suicide and other mental disorders, as well as understanding the motivations for self-injury and the context in which it occurs. This accessible and practical book provides therapists and students with a clear understanding of these key issues, as well as of suitable assessment techniques. It then goes on to delineate research-informed treatment approaches for NSSI, with an emphasis on functional assessment, emotion regulation, and problem solving, including motivational interviewing, interpersonal skills, CBT, DBT, behavioral management strategies, delay behaviors, exercise, family therapy, risk management, and medication, as well as how to successfully combine methods.
This research paper undertakes the beginning steps of an intervention model for use in residential facilities. The value of art therapy with adolescent girls who struggle with self-harming behaviors is addressed through a contemporary lens, and the suggested interventions were created within the frame of a solution-focused approach. The review and analysis of literature surrounding group art therapy with female adolescents, the specific issues encountered by female adolescents and those who self-injure, the role of mindfulness, and considerations regarding attachment needs, will provide support for the concept of a self-care themed art therapy group for female adolescents. A psychodynamic perspective will be used to understand the experience of adolescence and group session dynamics in art therapy. The structure of the art therapy group intervention will be described, including duration and session content, and sample art directives and group rituals are suggested through which the theme of self-care may be explored.
In this truly comprehensive guide, Dr. D'Onofrio approaches the topic of how first-responders, such as teachers, coaches, social workers, guidance counselors, and campus health counselors, can and do treat adolescent self-injury. From examinations of the core social and emotional issues related to self-injury to the integration of understanding with practice, everything needed for comprehensive care is detailed in this volume. Each part of the book focuses on a basic topic, such as what constitutes self-injury, the foundations for self-injury, and how to engage an adolescent with these issues. Each issue is presented in straightforward chapters that are immediately accessible to those who are currently struggling to address this growing trend among teens. The chapters within each part delve into how to recognize, treat, and approach this illness and incorporate first-person stories from psychologists, teachers, and adolescents themselves.
