In this article, the author discusses the United South End Settlements' (USES) Arts Incentives Program (AIP), a clinically informed, arts-based, youth and community development program working with high-risk girls ages 11 to 19. These girls face a convergence of risk factors, such as trauma, abuse, neglect, poverty, substance abuse, and…

Analysis of the Kinetic Family Drawings (KFD) of black children offers counselors insight into children's perceptions of the black family that do not support traditional views. The KFD is a drawing of the child's family, including the counselee, doing something together. The child then explains the drawing and identifies each of the family…

The author supports the promotion of mental health for deaf individuals through improved and expanded mental health services. To illustrate the psychological, educational, vocational, and social implications of deafness, Chapter 1 presents a profile of the deaf individual with emphasis on the communication barriers which exist at each stage of…

Art therapy and group discussion aimed at self-exploration and interpersonal learning formed the core of a group treatment model for 13 mentally retarded, emotionally impaired adolescents. Students were divided into two groups according to levels of functioning. Group structure and issues processed by group members are described in detail. (JW)

Investigates the drawing and copying skills of nine autistic and eight mentally retarded children matched for mental age. Results indicate a similarity of performance for the drawing tasks and significant differences concerning the copying. Discusses the specific functions performed better by the autistic children and provides illustrative…

This article describes an arts and narrative intervention program using visual art, storytelling, music, journaling, and support groups with incarcerated abused women to address the following questions: How can visual art and music empower incarcerated female survivors of domestic violence? Can art, music, storytelling, journaling, and support…

Purpose: Drawing on literature and the evaluation of a UK community Arts in Health project, this article aims first to demonstrate that, in spite of the common association in mental health practice between art and the use of psychotherapeutic techniques, involvement in art creation can, in itself, have a sustained and positive impact on the mental…

Presented at the 1979 National Art Education Association Convention on the arts in special education, the paper focuses on studies of the aesthetic and therapeutic use of special art procedures with handicapped students. The art education needs of handicapped students are briefly discussed, along with the impact and implications of new…

Recognition of the handicapped child's isolation from the environment is the basis for creative art therapy across handicapping conditions (physical disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, deafness, Blindness, speech impairment, cerebral palsy). Detachment may be overcome by self expression through drawings, paintings, and…

This resource book is intended to assist special education teachers in planning art lessons to meet specific goals. It is divided into sections covering mild and moderately handicapped students, severely and profoundly handicapped students, and student with specific sensory handicaps. Each section discusses definitions and characteristics of the…

The annotated bibliography lists approximately 500 citations (1967-1978) regarding the arts and exceptional children in preschool through grade 8. It is explained that the bibliography was designed to provide concrete material and ideas for teachers and therapists working with exceptional children in mainstreamed, resource room, or special class…

The bibliography on art therapy presents 1175 citations (1940-1973) drawn from searches of the medical indexes, computer systems of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Mental Health, other bibliographies, Centre International de Documentation Concernant les Expressions Plastiques, and the American Journal of Art Therapy.…

Highlights similarities and differences between the art making of normally developing and mentally retarded individuals. Defines pathological art as outsider art that can never be creative in the sense of relating to the artistic domain and engaging in a creative dialog with other artists that shape that domain. (MJP)

Stressed is the use of art for developing creativity, perceptual skills, and cognitive skills in handicapped children. Art activities are suggested for the following handicapping conditions: visually handicapped, auditorily handicapped, cerebral palsy, emotionally disturbed, learning disabled, and mentally retarded. Described are sample art…

This pilot study (N = 18) explored the effectiveness of focusing and expressive arts therapies intervention on the quality of life of women with breast cancer. The format was a 2-day (7 hours per day) retreat/support group in which complementary treatments (focusing, writing, art, and movement) were provided in an intensive format. Our hypothesis…