Imagining Animals

Art, Psychotherapy and Primitive States of Mind
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-041-00247-5
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 256 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 398 g

Reihe: Routledge Mental Health Classic Editions

This classic edition of Imagining Animals explores how the making of animal images in art therapy and child psychotherapy can act as a powerful catalyst for children who may be struggling with communication. Readers will benefit from learning about the different ways that animal symbolism can support autistic children and children navigating trauma, abuse and depression in engaging with the therapeutic process.

This essential book explores two contrasting primitive states of mind throughout: the investing of the world around us with life through animism and participation mystique, and the lifeless world in the states of mind encountered in children who are hard to reach. Featuring a new introduction by the author, subjects covered in subsequent chapters include, but are not limited to:

- Animal/human relationships

- Animal symbolism

- Animals on stage in therapy and anthropomorphic animal objects

- Three-dimensional clay-work

- The location of the self in animals

Imagining Animals offers a unique insight into the role and representation of animal imagery in art therapy and child psychotherapy. This is an essential read for all arts and play therapists working with children as well as adult psychotherapists interested in the use of imagery.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate, Professional Practice & Development, and Professional Reference

Autoren/Hrsg.

Case, Caroline

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychotherapie / Klinische Psychologie Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapie
• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychologie / Allgemeines & Theorie Psychologische Theorie, Psychoanalyse

Inhaltsverzeichnis

PART I
Introduction: working with children who are hard
to reach

1. An animal alphabet of our actual and symbolic relationship to
animals

2. Animals on stage in therapy: anthropomorphic animal objects

3. Animation through the window: the beautiful and the sublime

PART II
Introduction: closeness and separation

4. Separation and sleeping difficulties: helpful images with
sleepless children

5. The location of self in animals

6. Entangled and confusional children: analytical approaches to
psychotic thinking and autistic features in childhood

PART III
Introduction: case study: the heart and the bone

7. From calm to chaos and rage

8. Things that go bump in the night, the ‘fish pictures’ and the
development of clay-work

9. The heart and the bone

10. Working towards the end of therapy and conclusions

Über Autor(innen)

Caroline Case worked with children and families in the statutory services and in private practice for 48 years. She has published widely on her therapeutic work as an art therapist and child and adolescent psychotherapist.