Time-Limited Art Psychotherapy: Developments in Theory and Practice - Softcover

‘This is a timely publication. Art therapists are increasingly required, for clinical and for financial reasons, to provide time-limited therapy both in the NHS and in other settings. To do this they need to build new, well-grounded models of art therapy treatment and this book is a welcome addition to the literature they can draw on in this endeavour.’ - Tim Wright Chair: BAAT, West London Mental health NHS Trust; British Association of Art Therapists

'Art therapy traditionally was unimodal in terms of psychotherapy orientations – or even non-modal. This book reflects the advances that have occurred, integrating the major evidence-based modalities of psychological therapy with the work of art psychotherapists. It is an excellent and essential book for all those practising or studying this important field.' - Peter Fonagy, Freud Memorial Professor of Psychoanalysis and Head of the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL; Chief Executive, Anna Freud Centre

"This is exactly the book I have been waiting for!

Rose Hughes has brought together a group of art therapists who are rooted in contemporary practice and who offer valuable and timely help to today’s practitioners. At this book’s heart lies a clear-eyed appraisal of the challenges and constraints that characterise modern public service contexts. Hughes, Springham and Wood clearly articulate the dilemmas for therapists in addressing the diverse and complex needs of service users within the available resources at a time of austerity. They advance time-limited therapy as a strategy to promote collaborative approaches, and encourage service users to increase their sense of agency. All the contributors make the case for using adapted shorter-term models which involve integrating art psychotherapy with; Mentalisation-Based Therapy, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Brief Solution-focused Therapy, and all approach this with creativity.

Time-Limited Art Psychotherapy successfully offers a much needed bridge between theory and practice, and as Hughes so memorably puts it "this book will help us keep our nerve!" - Laura Richardson, Professional Lead for Arts Therapies, Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

"Overall the book's chapters flow seamlessly from one to another, achieving its aim of integrating therapy and practice, and leaving me feeling inspired and somewhat reassured that time-limited interventions can, and do, have a positive impact." - Claire O'Brien, PTUK Certified Play Therapist

Time-limited Art Psychotherapy: Developments in Theory and Practice comes at a watershed in the provision of art psychotherapy in public services. The increase in 'payment by results', clinical throughput and evidence-based practice, as well as the changing NHS context means there is an increasing need to provide effective therapeutic treatments within brief time limits where appropriate.

The book brings together the developments in theory and practice in time-limited working strategies emerging in the field. The contributors, all practising therapists, examine the practice of time-limited art therapy with different clients in a range of settings, with a variety of approaches, showing how they react and adapt to the changing face of mental health services.

Time-limited Art Psychotherapy will be essential reading to trainers and trainees in art psychotherapy and other schools of psychotherapy who integrate creative approaches within their practice. It will also form a useful contribution to the continuing professional development for a range of psychological therapists and practitioners of integrated psychotherapies such as CAT and mentalisation based therapies amongst others.