Table Of ContentArt Therapy and AD/HD
of related interest
The ADHD Handbook
A Guide for Parents and Professionals
Alison Munden and Jon Arcelus
ISBN 1 85302 756 1
Parenting the ADD Child
Can’t Do? Won’t Do?
DavidPentecost
ISBN 1 85302 811 8
Art Therapy with Children on the Autistic Spectrum
Beyond Words
Kathy Evans and Janek Dubowski
ISBN 1 85302 825 8
Medical Art Therapy with Adults
Edited by Cathy Malchiodi
ISBN 1 85302 679 4 pb
ISBN 1 85302 678 6 hb
Medical Art Therapy with Children
Edited by Cathy Malchiodi
ISBN 1 85302 677 8 pb
ISBN 1 85302 676 X hb
Contemporary Art Therapy with Adolescents
Shirley Riley
ISBN 1 85302 637 9 pb
ISBN 1 85302 636 0 hb
Art Therapy and Computer Technology
A Virtual Studio of Possibilities
Cathy A. Malchiodi
ISBN 1 85302 922 X
Art-Based Research
Shaun McNiff
ISBN 1 85302 621 2 pb
ISBN 1 85302 620 4 hb
Art Therapy and AD/HD
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches
Diane Stein Safran
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
London and Philadelphia
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any
material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by
electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other
use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright
owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988 or under the terms of a licence issued by the Copyright
Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London, England W1T
4LP. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce
any part of this publication should be addressed to the publisher.
Warning: The doing of an unauthorised act in relation to a copyright work may
result in both a civil claim for damages and criminal prosecution.
The right of Diane Safran to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
First published in the United Kingdom in 2002
by Jessica Kingsley Publishers
116 Pentonville Road
London N1 9JB, UK
and
400 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
www.jkp.com
Copyright © Diane Stein Safran 2002
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library ofCongress
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN-13: 978 1 84310 709 5
ISBN-10: 1 84310 709 0
ISBN pdf eBook: 1 84642 159 4
Printed and Bound in Great Britain by
Athenaeum Press, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear
About the Author
For as long as she can remember, art has been important to Diane Stein
Safran. Her life has been enriched by active participation in the creative
process,aswellasobservingandappreciatingtheartisticachievementsof
others. This book, Art Therapy and AD/HD: Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Approaches, is a culmination of both her lifelong interest in art and her
career working with the AD/HD population.
Theprocessofmakingartishighlytherapeutic,whetheritisaprelim-
inarysketch,drawing,painting,craftorintegratedartproject.Thisbook
stems from over 20 years of experience as an art therapist working with
children, adolescents, adults and families, many of whom have attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Art therapy is part of a multimodal
approach that is incorporated in Diane Safran’s private practice and in a
multidiscipline practice known as the Attention Deficit Disorders
Institute in Westport, Connecticut. Mrs Safran is a co-founder of the
ADDI.
MrsSafranisaregistered,boardcertifiedarttherapistandalicensed
clinical marriage and family therapist. Her studies have also included
group psychotherapy. Additionally, she is a court appointed expert
witness using art therapy to determine whether or not a child has been
sexuallyorphysicallyabused.ShehasalsolecturedthroughouttheUSA
on the use of art therapy with the AD/HD population.
MrsSafranismarriedandhasfourgrownchildren.Bothherhusband
and two of her daughters have AD/HD.
Contents
Dedication 9
Acknowledgements 10
Foreword by Myra F. Levick 11
Foreword by Gerald D. Oster 15
Introduction 17
1 Conceptualizing and Assessing Attention Deficits 21
2 Setting Up Children/Adolescent Educational Social
Skills Art Therapy Groups and Parent Educational
Groups 38
3 The First Session 54
4 Group Therapy for Children: Weeks Two
through Eight 61
5 Ongoing Art Therapy Groups with Children and
Adolescents 105
6 Adult AD/HD Art Therapy Sessions 132
7 Art Therapy with the AD/HD Family 171
8 Summary and Resources 192
References 200
Appendix 1: Parent Educational Group Tools 210
Appendix 2: Rules Established and Posted by Therapist 216
Subject Index 217
Name Index 223
This book is dedicated to the memory of Eva Stein.
Without your legacy of perseverance and intellectual
curiosity this book would not have been completed.
Thank you Mom for your encouragement, belief in this
project and continual love.
Acknowledgements
Thereweremanypeoplewhohelpedmeincompletingthismanuscript. Myra
Levick,JerryOser,JohnRateyandVirginiaMinarallreadthefirstmanuscript
andofferedconstructivesuggestionstotherevisionofthebook. Myhusband,
Frank, was my constant reader and critic. Leslie Carr provided editorial help.
Thank you to all my patients who were willing to share their stories and
drawingswithme,makingthisbookpossible.Mydaughters–Elysa,Beccaand
Dayna–provided continualencouragement. However,withoutmysonJona-
than’s help this book would not have been completed. Thank you.
Description:Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is increasingly being diagnosed in people of all ages, and this book demonstrates how art therapy can not only assist with diagnosis, but also provides a valuable means of helping to improve skills such as concentration and focus, boost self-esteem, and cope
