CREATIVITY AND THE DISSOCIATIVE PA » (New Edition)

Gerity, Lani Alaine (New York Univ)

Lani Gerity shows in this book that puppet making, incorporating both art and narrative, provides an ideal vehicle for therapeutic work with survivors of childhood trauma. Using puppets and creating narratives about them encourages patients to build communities and to release themselves from the hold of the trauma of their pasts. Descriptions and analyses of Gerity's work with dissociative patients in the US and Canada is underpinned by a theoretical framework which encompasses theories from the arts therapies and from psychiatry.

Booknews

Shows that puppetmaking, incorporating both art and narrative, provides an ideal vehicle for therapeutic work with survivors of childhood trauma, especially those with dissociative symptoms. Descriptions of group work with dissociative patients reveal a continuing sense of wonder as patients integrate self and body and release themselves from the trauma of their pasts. Discussion of the theoretical framework for this work encompasses theories from the arts therapies and psychiatry. The author worked with dissociative adults for many years. She currently practices art therapy in Ontario, Canada. Distributed by Taylor and Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)