Public Relations: Art Therapy Pedagogy Out of Bounds (Relations publiques : la pédagogie de l’art-thérapie hors limites)

Portrait Masks, Appropriated Space, and an Overseas Art Experiential: Nature as Critical Catalyst in the Practice and Training of Art Therapy

“…Recent literature suggests strong interests in nature and a return to the outdoors, an acknowledgement that technology is here to stay, that we must somehow integrate this within our service delivery, and that there is a resurgence in prioritizing creativity, imagination, and play in art therapy practice and training (Atkins & Snyder, 2018;Belkofer & Belkofer, 2018;Carlton et al, 2018;Horovitz, 2019;Hunter, 2012;Lay, 2020;Whitaker, 2021). Training that involves strong reflective processes certainly validates understanding as well as insights that we are yet to uncover-especially relevant as we move between actual and digital realities; reflective questions do lead to answers, however, they also lead to more questions (Backos & Carolan, 2018;Carlton et al, 2018;Lay, 2020;Whitaker & Riccardi, 2019).…”

“…This section surfaces the concepts of space, technologies, portraits, and how, together, they can contribute to an integration of body-mind-spirit as part of one's practice. Often described as a hybrid discipline, it is not surprising that art therapy intuitively expands to take into account diverse interests, developments, and trends associated with various communities, cultures, and geographical regions; understandably, this is part of ethical practice (Atkins & Snyder, 2018;Backos & Carolan, 2018;Huss, 2015;Kapitan, 2014;Lay, 2018Lay, , 2020McLachlan, 2017;Park, 2019;Whitaker & Riccardi, 2019).…”

“…Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic License here and now with the various roles they assume (trainee, artist, practitioner, researcher), make links to the client-therapist experience within the therapeutic encounter, expand their perspectives on what is and what can be, enhance their creative self-expression and art practice, and reflect upon and learn more about their own culture and the culture of others. Creating art and being in new spaces/environments stimulate the art therapy trainee and practitioner to expand their notion of where and how art therapy can happen, which, in essence, evolves practice (Carr, 2020;Lay, 2020;McLachlan, 2017;Whitaker & Riccardi, 2019). The metaphors invoked by space are rich and can be further unpacked and dialogued and can be represented and/or experienced through art and by physically being in that space (Whitaker, 2021).…”

“…It also serves to illuminate the potential of art and art therapy practice that extends to the environments in which it transpires (Whitaker, 2021). Art therapists need an understanding of cultures, including those involving technologies, and how these are manifested within art and the therapeutic encounter (Backos & Carolan, 2018;Choe & Carlton, 2019;Huss, 2015;Lay, 2018;Park, 2019;Whitaker & Riccardi, 2019). Ongoing research into the use of technologies, including selfie-related behavior, is needed given its cultural and larger societal implications as well as its potential impact on mental health and wellbeing (Balakrishnan & Griffiths, 2018;Rumpf et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2017).…”

Art Therapy: Expanding Borders and Boundaries Through Artistic Responses (Art-thérapie : élargir les frontières par des interventions artistiques)

“…With their lyrical, evocative, and imaginary writingstyle, Whitaker and Riccardi (2019) author an article in the "Soundings" section that parallels relational, esthetic, collaborative, and social justice-focused curriculum similarities that are based on open and multicentered community art therapy studio practices occurring at Concordia University in Montreal and Ulster University in Belfast. With the spirit and history of continuously reaching beyond traditional art therapy boundaries, Whitaker and Riccardi (2019) write, "Not unlike a custodian of an art collection, art therapy pedagogy involves conveying an essence of care through community integration, particularly with regard to employing interrelated disciplines" (p. 106).…”