Art Therapy and Learning Disabilities

Stephanie Bull, Kevin O’Farrell

"I am greatly honoured to be asked to endorse this book: its publication is an occasion to rejoice in the rich and diverse art therapy practice it depicts but primarily, in the sensitive involvement of service users and carers. How refreshing it is to really hear their voices and see the world from their perspective! Within a book dedicated to Learning Disability, the clients’ abilities, their strength and inner resources shine through. I know from my discussions with them that it has taken the editors, Stephanie Bull and Kevin O’ Farrell much courage and dedication to take this stance as it sometimes felt like a step into the unknown, away from the classical boundaries of therapy. This book however demonstrates that intelligent, sensitive and client-centred approaches to art therapy practice are immensely effective for service users and rewarding for the practitioners. It also addresses several related issues such as physical disabilities and will therefore be of interest to anybody connected with this work and provide food for thought to many clinicians regardless of their professional backgrounds. As it uses clear and accessible language throughout, it is also accessible to anyone who has a link with learning disabilities and manages to engage lay readers through good use of narratives and the art." – Val Huet, Art Therapist & Organisation Consultant; Chief Executive Officer, British Association of Art Therapists

• Sinason, Foreword. O’Farrell, Introduction. Bull, Personalisation and a New Landscape for Learning Disability Services. Part I: Having a Learning Disability. Caven, The Question of What to Say and How to Say it? Part II: Loss. Dee, Loss, Bereavement and Learning Disabilities – A Theoretical Overview. Dee, Shaping Loss. Bull and Shallcross, Leila’s Shunt: "If I Did Not Have the Shunt in My Head I Would Have Been OK". Part III: Attachment and Separation. Storey, Skating in the Dark. Part IV: Infantilisation. Goody, Stuck in Childhood? Part V: Fear. Ashby, The Long Fingers of Fear. Part VI: Powerlessness. Bruckland, "It Makes Me Jump When I Fall Over". Part VII: Self and Identity. Bull, "The Beast Can Scream". O’Farrell, Conclusion.