The Arts Therapies

'This welcome new edition is a brilliant guide to the different but related disciplines of the art, dance, drama and music therapies. It will be of interest to all who are working in the healing arts, in whatever capacity, as well as those contemplating a future career. The well chosen and fascinating vignettes make this an accessible book at all levels. Phil Jones has a refreshing, inspiring and much needed international perspective. This book has learned scholarship and an exciting sense of openness to collaboration, with a generosity of breadth and belief in the value of interdisciplinary dialogue.

In this volume he encompasses the history and development of the separate practices from a global perspective, antecedents, different contexts of practice and embraces recent new developments. Underpinning all his thoughts is the interconnecting play space central to all of the art therapies.'

Caroline Case, author of Imagining Animals: art, psychotherapy and primitive states of mind

'In this new edition of The Arts Therapies, Phil Jones paints an elegant, multi-colored landscape of the field. He stretches our understanding through time by reminding us of the many streams in history that have led to the arts therapies, and through space by bringing forward many voices from around the world. He argues for diversity and multiplicity, for movement and development, over linear and culturally limited perspectives. This is not a textbook: it is a symphony, a group mural, a ballet, a theatrical spectacle that illuminates the intersection of the arts and therapy, and inspires us to remain open and curious about our profession.'

David Read Johnson, Ph.D., RDT-BCT, Yale University, New Haven

'This book is an invitation to discover the diversity of the arts therapies as an ever-evolving practice that has arisen from a confluence of ideas and languages. Jones disrupts singular accounts of history, definition, and practice and calls attention instead to how the arts therapies respond to different situations and challenges around the world. The new edition contains a focus on research which both reinforces insights and reveals the complex frameworks through which practitioners seek to assert evidence. This book is necessary reading for all health providers as we contend with a growing awareness of the need for multiple and creative approaches to care.'

Nisha Sajnani, Ph.D., Director, Drama Therapy Program, New York University

Endorsements for the First Edition (2004):

'Phil Jones has brought the field of the arts therapies one of its most comprehensive, thoughtful and valuable textbooks in this exciting volume. The book shines with intelligence, compassion and a capacity for embracing the differences and commonalities between the arts therapies, the arts and their usefulness in alleviating pain and the development of human potential.'

Petruska Clarkson, co-editor of The Handbook of Psychotherapy

'This exciting interdisciplinary volume will be of interest to arts therapists, whether new to the subject or experienced practitioners, to artists and performers and all who are interested in the healing role of the arts. This book is a first – it brings together all the arts therapies in a single volume – vividly revealing each of them in action. Phil Jones boldly links art, dance, drama and music therapies. He demonstrates their interrelatedness and diversity with remarkable vignettes from clinical practice.'

Professor Joy Schaverien, author of Desire and the Female Therapist

'This book was waiting to be written, and Phil Jones has met the challenge with vigilance and imagination. It is a truly remarkable contribution to the arts therapies and of the arts in therapy. It is one of the most important books of the decade in the field, inspiring and creatively written. This informative guide provides a broad understanding of ideas and practice of the arts therapies in health. Its strength is the inter-disciplinary nature of the book, promoting a dialogue concerned with the commonalities and the differences in arts therapies…It is both deeply informative and thoughtfully comparative in nature.'

Dr Helen Payne, editor of Dance Movement Therapy: Theory and Practice

'This is that rare thing, a book which can be recommended to professionals and amateurs alike. I have been waiting a long time for something which would do justice to the unity and diversity of the arts therapies as a whole. Phil Jones’ writing is scrupulously researched, comprehensive and unbiased, exploring the "collisions and connections" within a powerful source of healing… A rich book.'

Dr Roger Grainger, author of Group Spirituality

'…a single-handed yet comprehensive introduction to the arts therapies. Each therapy is given its own chapter and theoretical links between the disciplines are outlined. Throughout the book there is a wealth of supportive and illuminating case material drawn from many sources…a very fine addition for all interested in the developing arts therapies.'

Dr Leslie Bunt, co-editor of The Handbook of Music Therapy

'This welcome new edition is a brilliant guide to the different but related disciplines of the art, dance, drama and music therapies. It will be of interest to all who are working in the healing arts, in whatever capacity, as well as those contemplating a future career. The well chosen and fascinating vignettes make this an accessible book at all levels. Phil Jones has a refreshing, inspiring and much needed international perspective. This book has learned scholarship and an exciting sense of openness to collaboration, with a generosity of breadth and belief in the value of interdisciplinary dialogue.

In this volume he encompasses the history and development of the separate practices from a global perspective, antecedents, different contexts of practice and embraces recent new developments. Underpinning all his thoughts is the interconnecting play space central to all of the art therapies.'

Caroline Case, author of Imagining Animals: art, psychotherapy and primitive states of mind

'In this new edition of The Arts Therapies, Phil Jones paints an elegant, multi-colored landscape of the field. He stretches our understanding through time by reminding us of the many streams in history that have led to the arts therapies, and through space by bringing forward many voices from around the world. He argues for diversity and multiplicity, for movement and development, over linear and culturally limited perspectives. This is not a textbook: it is a symphony, a group mural, a ballet, a theatrical spectacle that illuminates the intersection of the arts and therapy, and inspires us to remain open and curious about our profession.'

David Read Johnson, Ph.D., RDT-BCT, Yale University, New Haven

'This book is an invitation to discover the diversity of the arts therapies as an ever-evolving practice that has arisen from a confluence of ideas and languages. Jones disrupts singular accounts of history, definition, and practice and calls attention instead to how the arts therapies respond to different situations and challenges around the world. The new edition contains a focus on research which both reinforces insights and reveals the complex frameworks through which practitioners seek to assert evidence. This book is necessary reading for all health providers as we contend with a growing awareness of the need for multiple and creative approaches to care.'

Nisha Sajnani, Ph.D., Director, Drama Therapy Program, New York University

Endorsements for the First Edition (2004):

'Phil Jones has brought the field of the arts therapies one of its most comprehensive, thoughtful and valuable textbooks in this exciting volume. The book shines with intelligence, compassion and a capacity for embracing the differences and commonalities between the arts therapies, the arts and their usefulness in alleviating pain and the development of human potential.'

Petruska Clarkson, co-editor of The Handbook of Psychotherapy

'This exciting interdisciplinary volume will be of interest to arts therapists, whether new to the subject or experienced practitioners, to artists and performers and all who are interested in the healing role of the arts. This book is a first – it brings together all the arts therapies in a single volume – vividly revealing each of them in action. Phil Jones boldly links art, dance, drama and music therapies. He demonstrates their interrelatedness and diversity with remarkable vignettes from clinical practice.'

Professor Joy Schaverien, author of Desire and the Female Therapist

'This book was waiting to be written, and Phil Jones has met the challenge with vigilance and imagination. It is a truly remarkable contribution to the arts therapies and of the arts in therapy. It is one of the most important books of the decade in the field, inspiring and creatively written. This informative guide provides a broad understanding of ideas and practice of the arts therapies in health. Its strength is the inter-disciplinary nature of the book, promoting a dialogue concerned with the commonalities and the differences in arts therapies…It is both deeply informative and thoughtfully comparative in nature.'

Dr Helen Payne, editor of Dance Movement Therapy: Theory and Practice

'This is that rare thing, a book which can be recommended to professionals and amateurs alike. I have been waiting a long time for something which would do justice to the unity and diversity of the arts therapies as a whole. Phil Jones’ writing is scrupulously researched, comprehensive and unbiased, exploring the "collisions and connections" within a powerful source of healing… A rich book.'

Dr Roger Grainger, author of Group Spirituality

'…a single-handed yet comprehensive introduction to the arts therapies. Each therapy is given its own chapter and theoretical links between the disciplines are outlined. Throughout the book there is a wealth of supportive and illuminating case material drawn from many sources…a very fine addition for all interested in the developing arts therapies.'

Dr Leslie Bunt, co-editor of The Handbook of Music Therapy