Group Process Made Visible: The Use of Art in Group Therapy

Group Process Made Visible demonstrates the usefulness of the language of art in enabling group therapists and their clients to understand group members' perceptions of constructs and realities. Externalizing difficulties in visible form clarifies the patient's intended communication and provides the opportunity for constructive conversation. In this book, Shirley Riley explains nonartistic persons' accessibility to expressive tasks that reinforce the development of group cohesion and accelerate the establishment of a trusting and involved group. The book introduces the reader to the approach and general philosophy of the use of art as an additional language in group therapy. Through the presentation of a series of illustrations, the author exhibits the visual medium's usefulness in treating patients who suffer from a broad range of disorders or who have experienced various types of trauma. The basis of Shirley Riley's writing lies in the personal and professional experiences explored in thecase examples provided in Group Process Made Visible. Through the material offered in this book, she clearly defines structure, rationale, and dynamics. The readable, informative format of the work provides therapists with access to a creative addition to verbal therapy. This addition is not only effective, but it provides a command of communication that is appealing to clients. There are no recipes for interpretation or laundry lists of activities. Rather, the approach encourages a cooperative focus that leans toward a contemporary theory befitting in today's mental health world.

Shirley Riley, M.A., A.T.R., M.F.T., is a marriage, family, and child therapist, a registered art therapist, and an A.A.M.F.T. Approved Supervisor