Environmental Expressive Therapies

Environmental Expressive Therapies contributes to the emerging phenomenon of eco-arts therapy by highlighting the work that international expressive arts therapists have accomplished to establish a framework for incorporating nature as a partner in creative/expressive arts therapy practices. Each of the contributors explores a particular specialization and outlines the implementation of multi-professional and multi-modal "earth-based" creative/expressive interventions that practitioners can use in their daily work with patients with various clinical needs. Different forms of creative/expressive practices-such as creative writing, play therapy techniques, visual arts, expressive music, dramatic performances, and their combinations with wilderness and animal-assisted therapy-are included in order to maximize the spectrum of treatment options. Environmental Expressive Therapies represents a variety of practical approaches and tools for therapists to use to achieve multiple treatment goals and promote sustainable lifestyles for individuals, families, and communities.

Alexander Kopytin, PhD, is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, professor in the psychotherapy department at Northwest Medical I. Mechnokov University, head of postgraduate training in art therapy at the Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Training at St. Petersburg, and chair of the Russian Art Therapy Association. He introduced group interactive art psychotherapy in 1996 and has since initiated, supported, and supervised numerous art therapy projects dealing with different clinical and non-clinical populations in Russia. Dr. Kopytin has also written and edited several books on art therapy and art psychotherapy. Madeline Rugh, PhD, ATR-BC, is an assistant professor in psychology and visual art at St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Dr. Rugh has facilitated numerous workshops, both internationally and in the United States, on art therapy with disabled older adults, art therapy and spirituality, and art therapy and eco-psychology.

List of Figures Foreword Shaun McNiff Introduction Alexander Kopytin and Madeline Rugh Part I. The Emerging Paradigm and Theoretical Constructs of Environmental and Ecological Expressive Therapies Chapter 1. Nature Assisted Art Therapy: Technique or Transformation? Madeline Rugh Chapter 2. Environmental and Ecological Expressive Therapies: The Emerging Conceptual Framework for Practice Alexander Kopytin Chapter 3. Nature Therapy - Highlighting Steps for Professional Development Ronen Berger Part II. Nature-Assisted Expressive Therapies Practice Chapter 4. Drawing Nature Jean Davis Chapter 5. Inner and Outer Landscapes: Bringing Environment into the Therapeutic Relationship through Expressive Writing Mary Reynolds Thompson and Kate Thompson Chapter 6. The Art of Utilizing the Metaphorical Elements of Nature as "Co-Therapist" In Ecopsychology Play Therapy Janet A. Courtney Chapter 7. The Art of Mindful Walking in Earth-Based Art Therapy Beverley A'Court Chapter 8. Marble House Project: The Creative Process Inspired by Nature Dina Schapiro Chapter 9. Music - Nature - Therapy: Outdoor Music Therapy and other Nature-Related Approaches in Music Therapy Eric Pfeifer Chapter 10. Expressing the Fullness of Human Nature through the Natural Setting Lia Naor Chapter 11. Digging Bones and Crossing Thresholds: Healing Individuals and Communities through Nature-Based Expressive Arts, Ceremony and Ritual Sally Brucker Chapter 12. Until Death Do Us Part: The Relational Heart of Human-Animal Bonds Straja Linder King