Treatment of Addiction: Current Issues for Arts Therapists

235 Pages·1999·2.2 MB·English

by  Dianne Waller

Treatment of Addiction
The treatment of drug and alcohol addiction is highly complex. Changing
trends in policy and models of treatment reflect a fragmented view of the
problem, and practitioners offering alternative approaches risk being iso-
lated from the mainstream. To counter this, Treatment of Addiction exam-
ines the issues as they relate to the clinical practice of arts therapies
which, it is argued, have an especially relevant contribution to make.
Using research, discussion of related literature and clinical examples to
illustrate theoretical positions, the book explores why arts therapies offer
such an appropriate and effective treatment approach. The authors show
how psychotherapeutic thinking contributes to the understanding of the
difficulties experienced by this client group and discuss the importance
of group therapy in this area of work. Contributors look at the different
arts therapies and how they are developing in a number of different treat-
ment settings.
This book provides a lively and challenging view of professional ap-
proaches to difficult treatment issues, and will be of value to practitioners
in all branches of psychotherapy.
Diane Waller is Reader in Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths College,
University of London, and the President of the British Association of Art
Therapists. Jacky Mahony is Head of Art Psychotherapy for Oxleas NHS
Trust.
Contributors: Tim Cantopher, Angelika Groterath, Corrie McClean,
Jacky Mahony, Marcia Pleven, Neil Springham, Diane Waller, Gary
Winship

Treatment of Addiction
Current issues for arts
therapies
Edited by
Diane Waller and
Jacky Mahony
London and New York
First published 1999
by Routledge
11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2001.
Selection and editorial matter © 1999 Diane Waller and Jacky Mahony
Individual chapters © 1999 individual contributors
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data
Treatment of Addiction: Current issues for arts therapies/edited by Diane Waller and
Jacky Mahony.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Substance abuse – Treatment. 2. Art therapy. 3. Addicts – Counselling of. 4. Group
psychotherapy. I. Waller, Diane. II. Mahony, Jacky.
RC564.T737 1998
616.86’0651—dc21 98 17017
ISBN 0–415–16996–8 (hbk)
ISBN 0–415–16997–6 (pbk)
ISBN 0-203-13239-4 Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-18583-8 (Glassbook Format)
Contents
List of illustrations vii
List of tables ix
Notes on contributors xi
Acknowledgements xv
Introduction 1
DIANE WALLER AND JACKY MAHONY
1 Conceptions of addiction and implications for treatment
approaches 14
ANGELIKA GROTERATH
2 The philosophy of treatment of people with alcohol or
drug problems and the place of the psychotherapies in
their care 23
TIM CANTOPHER
3 Group therapy in the treatment of drug addiction 46
GARY WINSHIP
4 Introducing new psychosocial elements into already
functioning systems: The case of art pyschotherapy,
dance movement therapy and psychodrama at the
Centro Italiano di Solidarieta 59
I Art psychotherapy at CEIS 61
DIANE WALLER
vi Contents
II Shape-shifting from anthropomorpic to human form
79
MARCIA PLEVEN
III Psychodrama in the Centro Italiano di Solidarieta
95
ANGELIKA GROTERATH
5 ‘Screen memories’: The role of film in the therapeutic
milieu 106
GARY WINSHIP
6 Art therapy and art activities in alcohol services:
A research project 117
JACKY MAHONY
7 ‘All things very lovely’: Art therapy in a drug and
alcohol treatment programme 141
NEIL SPRINGHAM
8 Mixed metaphors – dependency or defence: Art therapy
as an intervention within a mother–daughter relationship 167
CORRIE McCLEAN
The future 207
DIANE WALLER AND JACKY MAHONY
Index 213
Illustrations
2.1 Normal distribution curve for height 30
4.1 Making the models 72
4.2 First model, ‘Primavera’ (‘Spring’) 72
4.3 Transforming ‘Primavera’ two months later 72
4.4 ‘Primavera’ becomes a working woman 74
4.5 A stage in making a figure 74
4.6 Sporty figure with Benetton cap 74
4.7 Student with first model 76
4.8 Student re-making first model 76
4.9 The second model: A mechanic 76
4.10 Pia’s elephant and butterfly picture 87
4.11 Split tree illustration 88
4.12 Black cat illustration 89
4.13 The introduction of human shapes to the pictures 91
4.14 Pia’s last drawing made within the group 92
4.15 Pia’s drawing made after having left the group 94
7.1 A patient’s tropical island picture 154
7.2 A patient’s drawing of his dog 156
7.3 Joe’s drawing of his house and garden 158
7.4 Tracy’s drawing of the two ‘paths’ 159
7.5 Jane’s picture of a crossroads 162

Tables
4.1 Pia’s progress and transformation over a seven
month period 93
6.1 Employment of art therapists 125
6.2 Projects with and without art 125
6.3 Status of responding projects 126
6.4 Status of projects with and without art 126
6.5 Reported employment of staff by designation 127
6.6 Comparison of reported staff designations 127
6.7 Average staff numbers per project 128
6.8 Respondents’ opinions about why there is no art
at their project 128
6.9 Potential for further development of art activities 132
6.10 The potential value of art therapy to the projects’
clients 132
6.11 The relevance of art therapy in alcohol services 132
6.12 Reasons regarding the relevance of art therapy in
alcohol services 133
6.13 Respondents’ understanding of the term ‘art therapy’ 133
6.14 Reported employment of staff holding a professional
title 134