Part I Philosophical Orientation and Method. 1. About
phenomenology for art therapy. 2. The phenomenological method of
art therapy. Part II Symbolic Expression in Art Therapy. 3.
Symbolic expression of line. 4. Symbolic expression of shape. 5.
Symbolic expression of colour. 6. Additional aspects and modes of
symbolic expression. Part III Expressive Qualities of the Scribble.
7. The scribble, annotated. 8. The scribble as art therapy
treatment of anorexia. 9. A schizoid episode in scribbles. Part IV
Art Expression for Art Therapy Diagnostics. 10. Diagnostic test
batteries for children. 11. A diagnostic test battery for
adolescents. Part V 12. Art expression by children under ultimate
stress (Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942-44).
The Market: Art therapists, psychotherapists, and all those
interested in the use and study of art therapy.
Integrating art, phenomenology and gestalt psychology, describing specific techniques and findings
Mala Gitlin Betensky, Ph.D., ATR, formerly visiting professor of
art therapy at the University of Delaware in Newark and at Haifa
University in Israel, is an art therapist and clinical psychologist
in private practice in Washington, D.C.
She is the author of The Social Psychology of Adolescents (1954)
and Self-Discovery through Self-Expression (1973).
There is a freshness and simplicity to Betensky's approach that is
attractive, with its emphasis on the immediate and the directly
visible, and with its respect for the client's own perception. The
structure of the book mirrors in some way this directness, with
concise summaries beginning and ending each chapter and with
clearly described theory interwoven with frequent, enlightening
case illustrations, including many drawings and some colour
reproductions... Betensky approaches [the reader] with a flexible,
searching style that reflects her willingness to take unexpected
directions in her quest for understanding and her ability to
elucidate these thoughts for the reader...the exercises contribute
to the book's practicality for the art therapy reader... This
thoughtful, practical book presents multiple examples from clinical
case material demonstrating the effectiveness of art therapy,
particularly to the non-art therapist. It will serve art therapists
and non-art therapists alike in presenting a focused view of the
phenomenological approach to art therapy and its advantages.
*Art Therapy*
the book has much to offer the open minded and eclectic art
therapist who could adapt and use these ideas with a wide range of
client groups in a variety of settings.
*Inscape*
Dr Betensky has made a significant contribution to the literature
of art therapy...what she has done is to provide us, not only with
the kinds of creative syntheses exemplified in her diagnostic,
therapeutic, and research work; she has also introduced us, clearly
and vividly, to the basic elements of symbolic expression in art -
line, shape, colour, etc - and how they can be viewed from a
phenomenological perspective. We would do well to adopt those of
her techniques which seem relevant and adapt them as needed in the
flexible manner of the author herself. And we would do very well to
emulate the kind of scholarship, clarity and creative synthesis
evident in this book, whatever form our own work eventually
takes.
*From the Foreword*
It feels like I am with her in the consultation room when she
describes an episode with a patient. She is not just a technician.
She is a professional, dealing with philosophy, past experience of
other professionals and past history of the field, and her own
history of work with patients.
*Dr Morris J Chalick*
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