Overview

Milia examines the effect of art therapy interventions with clients who harm their bodies. Her starting point is the definition of self-mutilation. In many cultures, self-mutilation is ritualized as a means of healing the whole socity. Body modifications such as scarification and tattooing are used in rites of purification, healing and maturity as well as performance art. The author draws out these aspects of self-mutilation, informing the reader with theories from psychoanalytical literature to explain how art therapy can help patients who self-harm. She argues that using art as interventiona supports the self-mutilator's preference for ritualized symbolic action and need to create transitional objects. She describes artmaking in terms of the modification of the self-mutilator's own body. The creative process itself provides an arena for aggressive impulses and develops self-control, patience and self-esteem. Demonstrating how these theories can be implemented in practice, the author then describes examples from clinical experience and includes a case study. She analyses art therapy sessions and the process and content of artwork.

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9781853026836

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Well written and researched.The book is extremely informative about self harm and helps to increase understanding of the motives behind people harming themselves. A good book to dip into for anyone working with clients who harm themselves for its valuable insights into the behaviour. -- British Journal of Occupational Therapy Discusses the use of art therapy with self-mutilating clients, with reference to the function of self-mutilation as a ritual act. In her introduction, the author describes awareness of self-mutilation in Western society and considers whether to view such an act with sympathy. Drawing on the ritual self-mutilation practices of other cultures, and on some performance practices in Western culture, she argues that individual acts of self-mutilation can be understood as part of a creative process intended to achieve a transformation of the self, which have counterparts in rituals of sacrifice. She outlines the theoretical basis for her work in this area, positioning self-mutilation as part of a process of self-healing through cycles of creation and destruction. She vies the task of the art therapist as to guide the client away from ritualistic self-mutilationtowards creative acts in which aesthetic expression becomes the medium for symbolic self-transformation. -- ARTbibliographies Modern

Discusses the use of art therapy with self-mutilating clients, with reference to the function of self-mutilation as a ritual act. In her introduction, the author describes awareness of self-mutilation in Western society and considers whether to view such an act with sympathy. Drawing on the ritual self-mutilation practices of other cultures, and on some performance practices in Western culture, she argues that individual acts of self-mutilation can be understood as part of a creative process intended to achieve a transformation of the self, which have counterparts in rituals of sacrifice. She outlines the theoretical basis for her work in this area, positioning self-mutilation as part of a process of self-healing through cycles of creation and destruction. She vies the task of the art therapist as to guide the client away from ritualistic self-mutilationtowards creative acts in which aesthetic expression becomes the medium for symbolic self-transformation. -- ARTbibliographies Modern Well written and researched.The book is extremely informative about self harm and helps to increase understanding of the motives behind people harming themselves. A good book to dip into for anyone working with clients who harm themselves for its valuable insights into the behaviour. -- British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Author Information

Diana Milia is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where she gained her MA in 1995. A registered art therapist, she practises at the IHB Day Treatment Center at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services, based in New York.

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