Expressive Therapies

This is a chapter excerpt from Guilford Publications.
Expressive Therapies, edited by Cathy A. Malchiodi
Copyright © 2005

EXPRESSIVE
History,
Theory,
THERAPIES
and Practice

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Expressive Therapies
History, Theory, and Practice
CATHY A. MALCHIODI

In his seminal work The Arts and Psychotherapy, McNiff (1981)

observes that expressive therapies are those that introduce action to psychotherapy and that “action within therapy and life is rarely limited to a specific mode of expression” (p. viii). While talk is still the traditional method of exchange in therapy and counseling, practitioners of expressive therapies know that people also have different expressive styles— one individual may be more visual, another more tactile, and so forth.
When
Depending on the client, the therapist may also begin a session with a warm-up activity or exercise such as a quick scribble, stretches, simple movements, or humming a familiar tune. The opening activity may be used simply for relaxation, to introduce a modality into the session, or to help the therapist evaluate the individual’s mood or current concerns. One or more expressive therapies may be used in a session—for example, while a drama therapy session may involve role play, it is also likely to involve movement or may start with some creative writing or a piece of poetry to stimulate or inspire the invention of a story. In subsequent chapters, applications and case examples of expressive therapies, including integrative approaches, are described in detail, illustrating their vast range of application as primary therapies and as complements to verbal therapy from a variety of theoretical models.

UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
OF EXPRESSIVE THERAPIES
Expressive therapies add a unique dimension to psychotherapy and counseling because they have several specific characteristics not
Music therapy is possibly the most widely researched modality, largely because physiological and behavioral reactions to music and music therapy interventions can be quantified. Within the field of art therapy, art-based assessments have been more extensively studied and efficacy studies in the areas of trauma and emotional disorders are receiving more attention (Malchiodi, 2003). In brief, while there have been some qualitative studies in the expressive therapies, most of the literature discusses clinical observations, case examples, and applications. Because of the recognition by mental health professionals of the inherent value of expressive modalities in treatment, interest in research is increasing, particularly in the areas of trauma, mood disorders,
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, and childhood disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism.

CONCLUSION
Johnson (1985) observes that expressive therapists “have a powerful vision, and we have emerged for a reason” (p. 238). In the same vein, the