Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PREFACE

PART ONE: What Is Mindfulness?

Chapter 1Introduction

What is mindfulness?

Chapter 2Mindfulness Theories and Approaches

Neurological correlates of mindfulness

Clinical approaches and theories: Two ways of approaching mindfulness

PART TWO: Mindful Art Therapy— A Method for Practice

Chapter 3Mindfulness Processes

Characteristics of mindfulness

Psychological functions of art and mindfulness

Art + mindfulness

Chapter 4Art Therapy Perspectives

A tree, or not a tree: that is the question

Phenomenological art therapy

Contemplation

Art-making

Reflecting

Connecting the dots

Summing up

Chapter 5Inside a Mindful Art Therapy Session

Phase one—facilitating mental openness

Phase two—processing experience

Phase three—interpretation

What actually happens in mindful art therapy?

PART THREE: Metaphorically Speaking

Chapter 6Painting Through Depression

Bridget’s visual montage of depression

Image one: creative freedom

Image two: symbolic color

Image three: psychological flexibility

Image four: creative solutions

Summing up

Chapter 7Good Grief

A breath at a time, a step at a time…

Early artworks

Along the road of awareness

In remembrance of the girls

Changing tides

Summing up

Chapter 8Voice of Reason

A trajectory through anger

Summing up

Chapter 9Silence Is Golden

Speaking of social anxiety

Summing up

Chapter 10Contemplating Panic

Summing up

PART FOUR: Clinical Applications in Mindful Art Therapy

Chapter 11Sentient Being

Chapter 12Sense and Sensibility

The extraordinary in the ordinary

Summing up

Chapter 13Complementary Methods

Metapsychology

Decentering through mindful art

Summing up

Chapter 14Mindful-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Wellness

Exploring freedom

Summing up

Chapter 15Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Claire’s storyboard of exhaustion and a means out of it

Summing up

Chapter 16Positive Psychology

Summing up

PART FIVE: Developing a Mindful Art-Therapy Practice

Chapter 17On Becoming a Mindful Art Therapist

Relational empathy

Developing a mindful art-therapy practice

Chapter 18A Note About Music

REFERENCES

SUBJECT INDEX

AUTHOR INDEX

PLATE SECTION