Portrait Therapy: Resolving Self-Identity Disruption in Clients with Lif

Portrait therapy reverses the traditional roles in art therapy, utilising Edith Kramer's concept of the art therapist's 'third hand' to collaboratively design and paint their clients' portraits. It addresses 'disrupted' self-identity, which is common in serious illness and characterised by statements like 'I don't know who I am anymore' and 'I'm not the person I used to be'.

 

This book explores the theory and practice of portrait therapy, including Kenneth Wright's theory of 'mirroring and attunement'. Case studies, accompanied by colour portraits, collages and prose-poems, provide insight into the intervention and the author highlights the potential for portrait therapy to be used with other client groups in the future.

 

The author's 2014 paper on Portrait Therapy in The International

Journal of Art Therapy is their 5th most downloaded article.

 

Market: Art therapists, particularly those working in palliative care or with those affected by serious illness and self-identity disruption. Also of interest to art therapy students and palliative care practitioners.