Introduction

In this introductory chapter, readers are oriented to strengths-based perspectives grounded in resiliency, countering long-standing assumptions of pathology for young people managing systems that are inherently detrimental and oppressive. By acknowledging the state of young people today and the various stressors they endure, authors offer art therapy as a well-suited modality to help them heal. The compilation that follows identifies early childhood disruptions related to trauma, followed by a broader view of stressors in family systems, and then examines macro-level stressors that propagate communal stress. Embedded in the theory and practice of art therapy is the opportunity to promote creative play and problem solving while engendering new aspects of personal agency. While the modality offers hope to a broad range of child and adolescent populations, authors caution clinicians in the field to avoid assumptions and generalized stereotypes, instead meeting each young person with an intersectionally informed approach.