Philosophy of Expressive Arts Therapy : Poiesis and the Therapeutic Imagination

Laying the philosophical foundations of expressive arts therapy, this book highlights the role and importance of poiesis , the art of 'making' as a response to the world, in the expressive arts therapies as well as our own lives. The concept of poiesis was originally developed and brought into the field by Stephen K. Levine. It is a perspective that restores the primacy of the arts for the arts therapies instead of reducing art-making and art-objects to psychological data. Bringing together different schools of thought in unexpected ways, this book shows how the principles underlying expressive arts therapy have relevance to ethics, politics and social change. It includes chapters on Taoism, improvisation in the arts, and the importance of creativity for understanding human existence. With personal narratives and poetry to help create natural points for the reader to stop and reflect, Philosophy of Expressive Arts Therapy is the perfect guide for those wanting to understand the role of the arts and art-making in life and in therapeutic change. PHILOSOPHY OF EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY Contents Cover Image—Artist's Statement Foreword Acknowledgements To The Reader My Way To Poiesis: the autobiography of a concept Part I - Poiesis, Therapy and the Arts Expressive Arts Therapy - The Primacy of Poiesis Patría Expressive Arts Therapy To Fides Towards the Work - Winnicott, Unintegration and Beyond Art Pardners Part II - Poiesis: From Phenomenology to Imagination The Feast of Imagination Something Terrible Has Happened Imaginal Psychology and Expressive Arts To Hossein Who I Never Knew Until Now Imagining the Animal That I Am Speak the Word The Philosopher’s Song You Have to Go on a Lonely Path Part III - The Way of Poiesis - A Chinese Perspective Beauty in Eastern and Western Thought The Beauty of Flowers The Tao of Poiesis Part IV - Poiesis, Improvisation, Identity Expecting the Unexpected - The Way of Improvisation Keep Your Shirt On! Who am I? What am I? - The Poiesis of Identity Bethlehem Afghanistan Part V - Last Words: When All is Said and Done The Art of Trauma - Poiesis and Human Existence Love and Bones Hope for Poiesis - An InterviewThe European Graduate School, July 2018 Welcoming Mr. P Song the Only Victory References Index Blank Page "The concept of poiesis was originally developed and brought into the field by Stephen K. Levine. It is a perspective that restores the primacy of the arts for the arts therapies instead of reducing art-making and art-objects to psychological data. Bringing together different schools of thought in unexpected ways, this book shows how the principles underlying expressive arts therapy have relevance to ethics, politics and social change. It includes chapters on Taoism, improvisation in the arts, and the importance of creativity for understanding human existence." -- Publisher's description This Book Is The Culmination Of Stephen K. Levine's Work And Expands On The Concept Of Poiesis, The Art Of 'making' As Foundational For The Field Of Expressive Arts Therapy. It Enables Practitioners To Reflect On The Basic Concepts Underlying Their Therapeutic Work, And Introduces Concepts From Taoist And Western Philosophy.