ABSTRACT
Every therapist who uses art in therapy faces decisions when working with clients similar to those of an artist facing a blank canvas or an unformed lump of clay. These are questions such as: How do I begin-how do I break into that inviting yet intimidating untouched surface? What direction shall I take-how can I make the best possible use of time and resources? How do I decide when the process is complete? There are no hard-and-fast rules in art or in therapy, and no easy answers to these and other questions. This book demonstrates that the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) can provide a framework for addressing difficult therapeutic decisions. Just as the muse inspires the artist but does not dictate, the ETC animates and directs, but does not command or require a specific course of treatment. The organizing structure of the ETC is underscored by an understanding that working with the complex nature of the human psyche requires great latitude for individual differences.
