Knowing Imagination

Here’s an unusual but very welcome application of art therapy, from Drake Bennett of the Boston Globe of April 13, 2008. Art therapy, along with other interventions, is being used in Saudi Arabia to attempt to treat convicted terrorists to help them to become less violent. I don’t see much in the way of outcome in the article but there are some criticisms mentioned that this couldn’t possibly work because it is too superficial. Those of us who who work in the field of art therapy know that the treatment can be quite deep and help to bring about profound and lasting change. I wish these art therapists the best of luck.

The image that accompanied the article (that is reproduced above) is by Brian Stauffer for the Boston Globe, not one of the art therapy participants. Wouldn’t you love the see the resulting art work from the art therapy sessions? What do you imagine it looks like?