Somatic Art Therapy

This book focuses on somatic art therapy for treating acute or chronic pain, especially resulting from physical and/or psychological trauma. It discusses the role of the psyche in physical healing and encourages the combining of traditional medicine and holistic perspectives in treatment.

Somatic Art Therapy, translated from the French text, provides case studies and examples from the author’s art psychotherapy practice of 40 years, including the four-quadrants method. The chapters review current treatments for chronic pain and PTSD, focusing on art therapeutic methods to treat these conditions, such as art therapy protocols for PTSD. The book exposes the underlying rationale of somatic art therapy, covering art therapy effectiveness, Levine’s somatic dissociation, van der Kolk’s somatic memory, and Scaer’s procedural memory concepts. Also featured are contributions from art therapists Sophie Boudrias, Mylène Piché, and Dr. Patcharin Sughondhabirom.

By providing a unique, clear, and concise synthesis of available art therapy methods, this text will appeal to both the general and professional public, including professional art therapists, psychotherapists, helping relation professionals, and medical practitioners.