Clay Work and Body Image in Art Therapy: Using Metaphor and Symbolism to Heal

Trisha Crocker, Susan M.D. Carr

Routledge, May 9, 2021 - Art - 214 pages

Clay Work and Body Image in Art Therapy provides an important addition to resources available in the field of clay work and art therapy, highlighting the unique sensory aspects of the medium and its ability to provide a therapeutic resource for women who experience body image issues.

Chapters offer a comprehensive distillation of current knowledge in the field of body image, clay work, neuroscience, and art therapy, building a theoretical framework around personal narratives. Case studies examine the benefits of exploring body image through clay work within art therapy practice, providing a positive and contained way to find personal acceptance and featuring photographs of clay body image sculptures created by research participants that highlight their individual stories and experiences. As well as offering both clinical and practical implications, the text provides a full protocol for the research and evaluation methods carried out, enabling further replication of the intervention and research methods by other therapists.

This book highlights clay work as a significant resource for art therapists, arts in health practitioners, and counsellors, providing an emotive yet contained approach to the development of personal body image acceptance and self-compassion.

Contents

• Chapter: 3
• Sessions One Two Three and Four: 4
• Sculpture No 1 by Sarah Me My Mummy Head and My Work Head: 5
• Sculpture No 2 by Sarah Smile on a Stick: 6
• Sculpture No 1 by Victoria Victorias Concern About Her Large Breasts 8 Sculpture No 1 from above by Victoria A Large Hollow: 7
• Sculpture No 1 by Linda Its the Spine 10 Sculpture No 2 by Linda All Women: 9
• Sculpture No 3 by Linda Gosh I Dont Even Think Ive Got a Body: 10
• Sculpture No 1 by Veronica I Couldnt Do Anything Until Id Made a Wall: 11
• Sculpture No 1 by Nancy For Me It Was About Being Really Honest: 13
• Sculpture No 1 by Jenny Ive Got a Comfort Layer: 14
• Sculpture No 1 by Edina I Think I Feel Quite Defensive About My Size at: 15
• Moment: 15
• Sculpture No 1 by Willow The Face Was Most Important: 16
• Sculpture No 1 Front by Priscilla How Embarrassing 18 Sculpture No 1 R Side by Priscilla I Hate You: 18
• Sculpture No 1 L Side by Priscilla Its Not for Me: 19
• Sculpture No 1 by Jane Remembering What It Felt Like to Do the Splits: 20
• Sculpture No 1 by Eleanor Three Distinct but Connected Parts or Broken Pieces: 21
• Sculpture No 1 Front by Paula The Image Is As I See the Outside World Seeing Me 23 Sculpture No 1 Back by Paula Like a Piercing 75: 23
• Sculpture No 1 Front by Justine The Pearl Is My Husband 25 Sculpture No 1 Side by Justine The Spine Represents a Strong Backbone: 25
• Sculpture No 1 by Sunny I Think the Image Represents Me as a Mother: 26
• Sculpture No 1 Front by Cynthia As I Made the SkinJowls They Became Part of an Owls Face: 27
• Sculpture No 1 Side by Cynthia My Wings Are My Hands Too Reaching Out: 28
• Sculpture No 2 by Sunny I Think the Positive About the Image Is Its Quite a Proud One: 29
• Sculpture No 2 Front by Justine The Odd Lumps and Bumps Represent My Someway Shapely Aging Body 31 Sculpture No 2 Back by Justine I Spe...: 31
• Sculpture No 2 by Cynthia I Felt Sadness and Almost Tearful when I was Scraping Out a Hollow Within Myself My Womb? or The Mushroom Shape: 33
• Chapter 5: 38
• Sculpture No 3 by Cynthia The Container Outside 34 Sculpture No 3 by Cynthia The Container Inside: 39
• Sculpture No 2 by Priscilla Torso with Large Hips and Angry Words: 45
• Sculpture No 1 by Priscilla How Embarrassing 37 Sculpture No 1 by Priscilla I Hate You: 46
• Sculpture No 1 by Cynthia The Owl in Baggy Trousers: 49
• Sculpture No 2 by Priscilla Cutting Away: 51
• Mothers and Others Influence on Body: 53
• Sculptures Nos 1 2 3 by Nancy For Me It Was About Being Really Honest or The Three Nancys: 57
• Sculpture No 2 by Priscilla Sticking It Back On: 61
• Sculpture No 2 by Priscilla Thats Just How It Is: 63
• Chapter 7: 65
• Sculpture No 2 by Priscilla There You Go Ive Lost an Inch: 67
• Sculptures Nos 1 2 3 by Nancy The Three Nancys: 68
• Intervention Protocol: 76
• Methods of Analysis: 89
• Bibliography: 115
• Index: 134

About the author

Trisha Crocker, PhD, is an art therapist working with at-risk children and women in private practice. She runs workshops in clay-making and body image from her pottery in Oxfordshire, England.

Susan M.D. Carr, PhD, is an artist, author, and art therapist in private practice, and currently co-Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Art Therapy. She has also developed and researched Portrait Therapy.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Clay Work and Body Image in Art Therapy: Using Metaphor and Symbolism to Heal
• Authors: Trisha Crocker, Susan M.D. Carr
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Routledge, 2021
• ISBN: 1000374068, 9781000374063
• Length: 214 pages
• Subjects: Art / Techniques / Sculpting