Reviewer:
Susan Richardson, MA, PsyD(Private Practice)
Description:
This is something of a casebook for mental health practitioners in which the author outlines techniques using visual diagrams to assist clients with various psychological issues. The title is a misnomer of sorts. This is not art therapy, per se; rather, it is stick figures and simple visual cues that demonstrate constructs.
Purpose:
The author's goal is to introduce her techniques to other mental health professionals as an alternative tool in psychotherapy. The author describes her interventions which use visual diagrams for internalizing psychological concepts.
Audience:
This book is written for clinicians and may also be of interest to graduate students who are looking for practical applications in psychotherapy.
Features:
The author provides 14 different clinical applications, including a model for assisting in decision-making and another which teaches healthy boundaries. For each intervention and objective, a clinical example, a rationale, and a description of any contraindications are provided. The book describes some thought provoking interventions, but as a unique and specific application, there is no research available on the subject.
Assessment:
This unique book is easily accessible to clinicians and graduate students of psychotherapy. The author introduces a novel technique that may be of assistance to adult patients who are able to appreciate symbolic drawings. Its problem-solving approach may have some appeal for practitioners preferring brief treatments.