Review of Art Therapy by David Edwards. London: Sage, 2004. Dr Susan Hogan.
As a University Reader in Art Therapy, I feel obliged to read everything, (well, almost everything,) that’s published on the subject and, although there have been a few good books recently, much of the literature is turgid, jargon-ridden and dull, dull, dull. It is therefore a positive delight to come across a book that is accessible, well-written, and easy to breeze through; it is an enjoyable read and one that I would recommend as an introduction to the subject of art therapy. Art Therapy by David Edwards (ISBN: 0 7619 4751 5) is intended as an introductory text and it is, in my opinion, the most accessible introduction to art therapy currently on the market. It is refreshingly clear of psycho-babble (though a number of psychoanalytic terms are explained). For those coming anew to the topic, unless you are looking for an historical account, you couldn’t do better than read Art Therapy. For would-be students of art therapy, there is a very useful introductory reading list (appendix one) with which I would broadly concur, though Dave Edwards might have been slightly more rigorous in weeding out badly written books.
Art Therapy contains chapters on ‘What is Art Therapy?’; ‘The Historical Background of Art Therapy as a Profession in the UK’; ‘Frames of Reference: Psychoanalysis, Art and Art Therapy’; ‘Art Therapy in Practice’; ‘Training’; ‘Professional Issues’; ‘An International Perspective’ and useful appendices. It is well produced and illustrated, though, alas, only in black and white.
This book will make very apt essential reading for all foundation courses in art therapy and for trainee art therapists it constitutes excellent pre-course reading. As a good all round introduction to the subject it will also be useful for other professionals wishing to get a sense of what art therapy is and how it is used. A would-be employer could pick up this fairly slim read and after digesting it have a clear understanding of the potential role of the art therapist within their organisation. The volume will therefore, be useful in a wide range of contexts.
For a longer version of this review, see the Australian National Art Therapy Association Journal (2006).
Author
Dr Susan Hogan is editor of Feminist Approaches to Art Therapy (1997, Routledge) and Gender Issues in Art Therapy (2003, Jessica Kingsley). Her monograph Healing Arts: The History of Art Therapy (2001, Jessica Kingsley) was described by the distinguished historian of medicine Professor Roy Porter as ‘sure to be the definitive monograph on the subject for the foreseeable future.’
