Art Therapy and Substance Abuse: Enabling Recovery from Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction

Art therapy is an effective treatment for individuals with addictions. Working with this unique and often difficult clinical population, however, requires special therapist awareness and knowledge. This handbook provides everything art therapists need to know about working with these clients. Drawing on many years' experience working with this population, Libby Schmanke provides valuable insight into this client group and explains how to ensure therapeutic interventions remain personalised and effective, while also meeting program needs. With case vignettes throughout, it covers everything from common treatment models and how art therapy can be incorporated within them, through to the bio-psycho-social aspects of addiction and how to handle a lack of cooperation or resistance to therapy.