David E. Gussak
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- November 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780231162517
- eISBN:
- 9780231534277
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231162517.003.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Forensic Psychology
This introductory chapter begins with an examination of art therapy, a summation of art-based assessments, and an overview of forensic art therapy. The American Art Therapy Association's Web site ...
More
This introductory chapter begins with an examination of art therapy, a summation of art-based assessments, and an overview of forensic art therapy. The American Art Therapy Association's Web site defines art therapy as “a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.” In many cases, the art-making process can be a catalyst for the artist to uncover subconscious or unconscious thoughts and beliefs, creating a finished product which can be used for assessable data. Some examples of art therapy assessments include the Kramer Art Assessment, Levick Cognitive and Emotional Art Therapy Assessment, Face Stimulus Assessment, and Ulman Personality Assessment Procedure. Forensic art therapy then applies art therapy assessments, principles, and practices to assist in the resolution of legal matters.Less
This introductory chapter begins with an examination of art therapy, a summation of art-based assessments, and an overview of forensic art therapy. The American Art Therapy Association's Web site defines art therapy as “a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.” In many cases, the art-making process can be a catalyst for the artist to uncover subconscious or unconscious thoughts and beliefs, creating a finished product which can be used for assessable data. Some examples of art therapy assessments include the Kramer Art Assessment, Levick Cognitive and Emotional Art Therapy Assessment, Face Stimulus Assessment, and Ulman Personality Assessment Procedure. Forensic art therapy then applies art therapy assessments, principles, and practices to assist in the resolution of legal matters.
David E. Gussak
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- November 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780231162517
- eISBN:
- 9780231534277
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231162517.003.0009
- Subject:
- Psychology, Forensic Psychology
This chapter discusses forensic art therapy—a term coined by Marcia Sue Cohen-Liebman—which is the use of art to help resolve legal disputes. Cohen-Liebman offered three significant advantages for ...
More
This chapter discusses forensic art therapy—a term coined by Marcia Sue Cohen-Liebman—which is the use of art to help resolve legal disputes. Cohen-Liebman offered three significant advantages for using drawings in a forensic context. Drawings are used in a supportive capacity in the investigation of legal matters, since it provides contextual information that can contribute to the determination of charges as well as the identification of additional arenas to investigate. It can also serve as an evidentiary material that is admissible in judicial proceedings. Clients of forensic art therapists may be children, adolescents, and adults. However, the literature on the use of art therapy in a judicial context has usually focused on using art with children, because children often do not know the correct words to explain a situation and may need illustrations to support their limited vocabulary.Less
This chapter discusses forensic art therapy—a term coined by Marcia Sue Cohen-Liebman—which is the use of art to help resolve legal disputes. Cohen-Liebman offered three significant advantages for using drawings in a forensic context. Drawings are used in a supportive capacity in the investigation of legal matters, since it provides contextual information that can contribute to the determination of charges as well as the identification of additional arenas to investigate. It can also serve as an evidentiary material that is admissible in judicial proceedings. Clients of forensic art therapists may be children, adolescents, and adults. However, the literature on the use of art therapy in a judicial context has usually focused on using art with children, because children often do not know the correct words to explain a situation and may need illustrations to support their limited vocabulary.
David Gussak
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- November 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780231162517
- eISBN:
- 9780231534277
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231162517.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Forensic Psychology
This book details how forensic art therapy was used in a capital murder case in which a man was tried for kidnapping his two children, murdering one, and attempting to kill the other. In this case, ...
More
This book details how forensic art therapy was used in a capital murder case in which a man was tried for kidnapping his two children, murdering one, and attempting to kill the other. In this case, the prosecution sought the death penalty, while the defense employed an unusual strategy to avoid the sentence. The defendant's attorneys turned to more than one hundred examples of his artwork, which he had created over many years, to determine whether he was mentally ill at the time he committed the crimes. The book's author, an art therapist who was contracted by the defense to analyze the images that were to be presented as evidence in the case, recounts his findings and his testimony in court, as well as the future implications of his work for criminal proceedings. The book describes the role of the art therapist as an expert witness in a murder case, the way in which art can be used as evidence and the conclusions and assessments that professionals can draw from a defendant's artworks. It examines the effectiveness of expert testimony as communicated by the prosecution, defense and court, and weighs the moral, ethical, and legal consequences of relying on such evidence. The book shows how art can reflect a damaged and dangerous psyche and demonstrates the practical applications of an innovative approach to clinical assessment and treatment.Less
This book details how forensic art therapy was used in a capital murder case in which a man was tried for kidnapping his two children, murdering one, and attempting to kill the other. In this case, the prosecution sought the death penalty, while the defense employed an unusual strategy to avoid the sentence. The defendant's attorneys turned to more than one hundred examples of his artwork, which he had created over many years, to determine whether he was mentally ill at the time he committed the crimes. The book's author, an art therapist who was contracted by the defense to analyze the images that were to be presented as evidence in the case, recounts his findings and his testimony in court, as well as the future implications of his work for criminal proceedings. The book describes the role of the art therapist as an expert witness in a murder case, the way in which art can be used as evidence and the conclusions and assessments that professionals can draw from a defendant's artworks. It examines the effectiveness of expert testimony as communicated by the prosecution, defense and court, and weighs the moral, ethical, and legal consequences of relying on such evidence. The book shows how art can reflect a damaged and dangerous psyche and demonstrates the practical applications of an innovative approach to clinical assessment and treatment.
