Customer Reviews

Art Psychotherapy (Wiley Series on Personality Processes)

5 star:		(4)
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3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This work was originally published almost 20 years ago; the copyright date indicates the paperback version. Potential readers would be wise to go to more contemporary volumes than this one for current info on art therapy. This book is basically well-written, just terribly old information and more historic than anything else.

I purchased this book for my Kindle, and the information it contained was fantastic. However, around chapter 21, the images that accompany this publication were missing. I contacted Amazon several times, and was basically given the runaround. I was first told that some publications don't contain images in the Kindle edition. I told them that I believed that was not the case in this instance, as the images prior to Figure 21.21 were present, and after they were missing. I was then told that the technical team would investigate and contact me in 2-3 days. A week went by, and I heard nothing, so I contacted them again. This time they told me the problem was with my Kindle (which I doubted, since the same images were missing on my PC Kindle Reader), but fine, I played along. I shut off my Kindle, rebooted my Kindle, reloaded the publication, etc. The same problem. I told them this, and they said they would investigate further.

When I first reported this issue, the Kindle edition of this publication was removed from sales. About a week later I checked again and found that it was being offered for sale again. Fantastic! Nope... same problem.

Over a month of contacting Amazon, and getting false promises that included 1) contacting me with updates and 2) emailing me a new file once the problem was resolved, I finally just threw in the towel and requested a refund. Refunds, they can apparently do quite well, as they did not hesitate to honor my request. However, it seems as though no one at Amazon was really interested in correcting the corrupted file or in providing great customer service.

I wouldn't have been so insistant that this issue be corrected, if this had not been an Art Psychotherapy book. The images are important, in my opinion, and it's a real disappointment that Amazon was less than capable of fixing this problem.

This classic text by Harriet Wadeson, a pioneer in the field of art therapy, has been an indispensable go-to-book for graduate students in art therapy. The updated new edition includes a CD-ROM, as well as new chapters about important and timely topics such as art therapy work for trauma treatment, multi-cultural issues and community art therapy. It also includes a chapter on art for professional processing, a topic particularly relevant to me as a student and budding professional. Dr. Wadeson's book is both inspiring and practical, and includes case vignettes and artwork. I highly recommend this updated edition to students and professionals. As well, it would be the perfect book for anyone interested in learning about this fascinating field.


Art Therapy Graduate student

This updated version of Dr. Harriet Wadeson's classic text was worth the wait. Thirty years after the publication of the original, the 2nd edition is up-dated and expanded from the first edition. Chapters have been added to reflect changes in theory and treatment including topics such as: Multi-cultural issues, Adult Survivors of sexual Abuse, PTSD, Crisis, Substance Abuse, and Art for Professional Processing. Dr. Wadeson uses clinical examples to illustrate throughout, which add richness to the text. An accompanying DVD shows color examples of art work which is a wonderful addition. This volume is an excellent choice for those wanting to learn more about the field from a seasoned practitioner. It will be useful as well to those currently practicing and studying the field of art therapy.

Debra Paskind, ATR_BC, LCPC
Core faculty , Adler School of Professional Psychology

The 2nd edition of Art psychotherapy by Harriet Wadeson, Ph.D. is a welcomed update and enlargement of the classic art therapy volume by the same title. Important additions are chapters on the use of art therapy with trauma survivors, people with medical illnesses, community art therapy, addressing multicultural issues with art therapy and using art for professional self-processing to name a few.

Art psychotherapy is full of examples of the therapeutic use of art, which are further illustrated with over 100 color images in the accompanying CD.

In additional to being a pioneer in the field of art therapy, Dr. Wadeson is a world-renowned author and lecturer. This book is an important compilation of her historic and ongoing contributions to the field. As stated in the preface "Art psychotherapy is intended to inspire and inform those who work in the exciting, creative field of art therapy as well as those who are interested in doing so".

This book is required reading in future courses at our school and I highly recommend it for both seasoned professionals or individuals with curiosity about art therapy due to both the content and readability.

Reviewed by Gail Roy, MA, ATR-BC, LCPC, Core faculty, Adler School of Professional Psychology

Art Psychotherapy I came upon this book for art therapy professionals and was curious what art therapy was all about. What I found was this well-written, clear explanation of art therapy with illustrations and a CD, written by Harriet Wadeson Ph.D. Terrific information given in an engaging, informative writing style blending stories with research. I recommend this book for everyone to read whether a professional in the field or just curious about what art therapy is all about. A wonderful read written by Dr. Wadeson who has devoted her career to researching and developing methods to help others whether in battered women's shelters or in one-to-one sessions.

This book is more historic in nature-- the author is what is called a pioneer in the field of art therapy. It is good to see a slightly updated version of this book, too. But because of the lack of contemporary thinking about art therapy in it, it is a good one to visit in your library rather than purchase.

One group who might be interested in it are social workers who actually function as psychotherapists to some extent. They would be able to apply the principles in this book to their work. The average art therapist? No, since most will never be asked to do "art psychotherapy" and will need an additional psychologist or social worker license to apply this method of practice to work with patients.