ABSTRACT
Imagining Animals explores the making of animal images in art therapy and child psychotherapy. It examines two contrasting primitive states of mind: the investing of the world about us with life through animism and participation mystique, and the lifeless world of autistic states of mind encountered in children who are hard to reach.
Caroline Case examines how the emergence of animal imagery in therapy can act as a powerful catalyst for children in autistic states of mind, or with a background of trauma, abuse or depression. She also looks at animal / human relationships, and animal symbolism, as well as three-dimensional claywork and the development of personality. Subjects covered include:
* animals on stage in therapy - anthropomorphic animal objects
* the location of self in animals
* entangled and confusional children: analytical approaches to psychotic thinking and autistic features in childhood.
The book concludes with a compelling extended case study, which describes analytic work with a child with multiple symptoms, using the various therapeutic tools of play and art, painting and clay, and the development of character, plot and narrative.
Imagining Animals offers a unique insight into the role and representation of animal imagery in art therapy and child psychotherapy, which will be of interest to all arts and play therapists working with children as well as adult psychotherapists interested in the use of imagery.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|66 pages
Working with children who are hard to reach
chapter |14 pages
Introduction: working with children who are hard to reach
chapter Chapter 1|14 pages
An animal alphabet of our actual and symbolic relationship to animals
chapter Chapter 2|16 pages
Animals on stage in therapy: anthropomorphic animal objects
chapter Chapter 3|20 pages
Animation through the window: the beautiful and the sublime
part II|56 pages
Closeness and separation
chapter |10 pages
Introduction: closeness and separation
chapter Chapter 5|15 pages
The location of self in animals
part III|88 pages
Case study: the heart and the bone