Grief and Expressive Arts Therapy

Abstract

This chapter explores use of the expressive arts by contemporary clinicians working with people experiencing grief, loss, and bereavement in clinical practice and community settings in today’s society. In expressive arts therapy, an attitude of openness and receptivity invites images to appear and allows them to find their appropriate forms. Images of grief and loss are allowed to take shape in whatever artistic medium is indigenous to the experience and consonant with the particular circumstances and needs of the individual or community. Crisis, disaster, and loss can challenge the core meanings of any community. Journalists, community leaders and members, musicians, and artists create soulful ways to respond to tragedies in meaningful, participative ways, such as videography, visual arts, music, and dance. Often, multiple mediums interweave, and bring the broken community together in developing rituals and commemorations or memorials.