NY-0316 - Creativity Heals in an Uncreative Place: Fostering Art Therapy with Prison Inmates

Description

Art therapists who wish to work in prison believe that they operate within a structured and regulated system that restricts creativity and healing. This course, through personal experiences, illustrations, and perspectives from other art therapists, demonstrates workaround techniques that allow art and creativity to flourish while facilitating treatment.

Learning Objectives

Define the role an art therapist may play in prison.
Identify the various challenges an art therapist may have in facilitating creativity and healing in prison.
Delineate at least three creative art therapy directives that are effective despite the restrictive environment.

Dr. David Gussak

PhD, ATR-BC, HLM

Florida State University

David E. Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM is Professor for the Florida State University’s Graduate Art Therapy Program and Program Coordinator for the FSU/FL Dept of Correction’s Art Therapy in Prisons program. Dr. Gussak has presented and published extensively internationally and nationally on a myriad of topics, including forensic art therapy, art therapy in forensic settings, with violin and aggressive clients, professional identity, ethics, and supervision. He has held numerous roles for several professional organizations, including the American Art Therapy Association and the Art Therapy Credentials Board and he currently serves on the editorial board for several professional journals. He has also served as a supervisor and mentor for many over the last 30 years.