1st Edition

Imagining Animals Art, Psychotherapy and Primitive States of Mind

By Caroline Case Copyright 2005
    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    Imagining Animals explores the making of animal images in art therapy and child psychotherapy. It examines two contrasting primitive states of mind: the investing of the world about us with life through animism and participation mystique, and the lifeless world of autistic states of mind encountered in children who are hard to reach.

    Caroline Case examines how the emergence of animal imagery in therapy can act as a powerful catalyst for children in autistic states of mind, or with a background of trauma, abuse or depression. She also looks at animal / human relationships, and animal symbolism, as well as three-dimensional claywork and the development of personality. Subjects covered include:

    * animals on stage in therapy - anthropomorphic animal objects
    * the location of self in animals
    * entangled and confusional children: analytical approaches to psychotic thinking and autistic features in childhood.

    The book concludes with a compelling extended case study, which describes analytic work with a child with multiple symptoms, using the various therapeutic tools of play and art, painting and clay, and the development of character, plot and narrative.
    Imagining Animals offers a unique insight into the role and representation of animal imagery in art therapy and child psychotherapy, which will be of interest to all arts and play therapists working with children as well as adult psychotherapists interested in the use of imagery.

    Part I: Introduction: Working with Children who are Hard to Reach. An Animal Alphabet of our Actual and Symbolic Relationship to Animals. Animals on Stage in Therapy: Anthropomorphic Animal Objects. Animation Through the Window: The Beautiful and the Sublime. Part II: Introduction: Closeness and Separation. Separation and Sleeping Difficulties: Helpful Images with Sleepless Children. The Location of Self in Animals. Entangled and Confusional Children: Analytical Approaches to Psychotic Thinking and Autistic Features in Childhood. Part III: Introduction: Case Study: The Heart and the Bone. From Calm to Chaos and Rage. Things that go Bump in the Night, the 'Fish Pictures' and the Development of Clay-work. The Heart and the Bone. Working Towards the End of Therapy and Conclusions.

    Biography

    Caroline Case is an analytical art therapist in private practice and a child and adolescent psychotherapist at the Knowle Clinic, Bristol. She is co-author of The Handbook of Art Therapy and co-editor of Working with Children in Art Therapy