Clay Work and Body Image in Art Therapy provides an important addition
to resources available in the field of clay work and art therapy,
highlighting the unique sensory aspects of the medium and its ability to
provide a therapeutic resource for women who experience body image
issues.
Chapters offer a comprehensive distillation of current knowledge in the
field of body image, clay work, neuroscience, and art therapy, building
a theoretical framework around personal narratives. Case studies examine
the benefits of exploring body image through clay work within art
therapy practice, providing a positive and contained way to find
personal acceptance and featuring photographs of clay body image
sculptures created by research participants that highlight their
individual stories and experiences. As well as offering both clinical
and practical implications, the text provides a full protocol for the
research and evaluation methods carried out, enabling further
replication of the intervention and research methods by other
therapists.
This book highlights clay work as a significant resource for art
therapists, arts in health practitioners, and counsellors, providing an
emotive yet contained approach to the development of personal body image
acceptance and self-compassion.