Verified by Psychology Today

Art on Trial

Confessions of a serial art therapist

Identity
Re-humanizing thru Art —Pressing On with the Discourse

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on December 20, 2016

Relabeling dehumanized inmates with a new self identity may allow them to rise above the oppression that makes it difficult for them to adapt and succeed. Art can help.

Relabeling dehumanized inmates with a new self identity may allow them to rise above the oppression that makes it difficult for them to adapt and succeed. Art can help.

Identity
Fighting My White Male Privilege—A Confession

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on November 1, 2016

Before exploring anti-oppressive practices in therapy, do I need to to address my own white male privilege? In this current political and societal climate, it is imperative.

Before exploring anti-oppressive practices in therapy, do I need to to address my own white male privilege? In this current political and societal climate, it is imperative.

Identity
Art Therapist: Ambassador in the Prison Subculture

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on April 12, 2016

To provide care within the primitive prison subculture, the art therapist must act as an ambassador and compromise with the foreign dynamics—the trick is to not appear to do so.

To provide care within the primitive prison subculture, the art therapist must act as an ambassador and compromise with the foreign dynamics—the trick is to not appear to do so.

Identity
Art Therapy in Prison Is Social Justice

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on February 11, 2016

Is art therapy in prison social justice? If social justice is about giving the marginalized and disenfranchised members of society a chance, then the answer has to be yes.

Is art therapy in prison social justice? If social justice is about giving the marginalized and disenfranchised members of society a chance, then the answer has to be yes.

Sex
Peeling Away the Layers: Art Therapy with a Sex Offender

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on January 21, 2016

It's difficult yet rewarding to address the needs of this marginal—and oftentimes disturbing—population.

It's difficult yet rewarding to address the needs of this marginal—and oftentimes disturbing—population.

Depression
Holiday Prison Blues: Easing the Depression thru Art

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on December 24, 2015

Depression is pervasive in prison; the holidays can be especially grueling. Here's how and why art therapy can be quite useful in easing these holiday prison blues.

Depression is pervasive in prison; the holidays can be especially grueling. Here's how and why art therapy can be quite useful in easing these holiday prison blues.

Therapy
Art Therapy in Prison—Now That’s Sexy!

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on October 27, 2015

Recounting a time when a colleague described art therapy in prison as "sexy", this post explores what it is that attracts the public to prison art and how such fascination can be used to break down the barriers that exist for the inmate population.

Recounting a time when a colleague described art therapy in prison as "sexy", this post explores what it is that attracts the public to prison art and how such fascination can be used to break down the barriers that exist for the inmate population.

Sex
Art Therapy With Sex Offenders: Exposing the Fragile Self

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on September 24, 2015

Guest blogger Cindy Chen focuses on the challenges of using art therapy with sex offenders to identify treatment barriers, build alliances and establish resiliency, and even to work with her own counter-transferential issues.

Guest blogger Cindy Chen focuses on the challenges of using art therapy with sex offenders to identify treatment barriers, build alliances and establish resiliency, and even to work with her own counter-transferential issues.

Identity
Who Am I? A Fragmented Professional Identity

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on September 3, 2015

In prisons, where anything can happen, therapists' identities become fluid, constantly shifting until it’s sometimes difficult to remember who we even are. This post examines how such personal challenges arose, providing real life — sometimes horrible — experiences that forced such confusion, and yet how, as an art therapist, tools were available to overcome such trials.

In prisons, where anything can happen, therapists' identities become fluid, constantly shifting until it’s sometimes difficult to remember who we even are. This post examines how such personal challenges arose, providing real life — sometimes horrible — experiences that forced such confusion, and yet how, as an art therapist, tools were available to overcome such trials.

Anxiety
Prison Art: Is It Therapy or "Therapeutic"? So What?

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on July 28, 2015

There is no doubt that making art in prison can be therapeutic--but is it necessarily therapy? This blog teases apart the differences between the two, all the while exploring the age-old question: so what?

There is no doubt that making art in prison can be therapeutic--but is it necessarily therapy? This blog teases apart the differences between the two, all the while exploring the age-old question: so what?

Media
Anathema Art: Using Inmates' Art to Help Them Transcend

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on June 16, 2015

This post emerged from a conversation and interview with Angela Luttrell, founder of Anathema Art, an amazing program that uses art to help prison inmates transcend their limitations and circumstances.

This post emerged from a conversation and interview with Angela Luttrell, founder of Anathema Art, an amazing program that uses art to help prison inmates transcend their limitations and circumstances.

Career
Barred Art: Reflections on a Prison Art Show

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on May 21, 2015

Guest blogger and colleague Shannon Schmitz, an art therapist who has spent many years working as an art therapist in various prison settings, offers heartfelt musings following her recent experience of judging an art show in a makeshift prison art gallery.

Guest blogger and colleague Shannon Schmitz, an art therapist who has spent many years working as an art therapist in various prison settings, offers heartfelt musings following her recent experience of judging an art show in a makeshift prison art gallery.

Law and Crime
The Candy Man: A Prisoner Paints with Delectable Materials

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on April 7, 2015

Sometimes the art completed by a prison inmate transcends the limitations inherent in the rigidly controlled and tedious prison environment, with the artist often relying on very unusual materials—candy M & Ms to be precise—from which to create. This post presents the highly unorthodox yet beautiful art created by Blasi, a man locked up for murder over 30 years ago.

Sometimes the art completed by a prison inmate transcends the limitations inherent in the rigidly controlled and tedious prison environment, with the artist often relying on very unusual materials—candy M & Ms to be precise—from which to create. This post presents the highly unorthodox yet beautiful art created by Blasi, a man locked up for murder over 30 years ago.

Health
Using Art to 'Touch' Someone in a Juvenile Detention Center

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on March 12, 2015

Guest blogger and artist Elise Lunsford describes a unique and creative approach to promote reconnection and healing with a difficult client in a juvenile detention facility. In forensic settings, clinicians are warned not to touch the inmates. She demonstrates that art can allow us to reach out and touch those who therapists would otherwise hesitate to touch.

Guest blogger and artist Elise Lunsford describes a unique and creative approach to promote reconnection and healing with a difficult client in a juvenile detention facility. In forensic settings, clinicians are warned not to touch the inmates. She demonstrates that art can allow us to reach out and touch those who therapists would otherwise hesitate to touch.

Fear
Escaping Across the Border Through Art

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on February 19, 2015

Often, women who are emigrating from Mexico—sometimes illegally—may be doing so to escape from violence and suffering. Sometimes, they escape towards it. This post examines how one art therapist, guest blogger Valentina Castro, uses art to help endure and heal from such pain.

Often, women who are emigrating from Mexico—sometimes illegally—may be doing so to escape from violence and suffering. Sometimes, they escape towards it. This post examines how one art therapist, guest blogger Valentina Castro, uses art to help endure and heal from such pain.

Addiction
Brush with the Law: An Arts in Prison Program

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on January 27, 2015

Guest blogger and artist Maria Maneos describes the tragic impetus and the development of her innovative nonprofit Prison Art organization "Brush with the Law," and how it has brought about effective and healthy change in those inmates that participate.

Guest blogger and artist Maria Maneos describes the tragic impetus and the development of her innovative nonprofit Prison Art organization "Brush with the Law," and how it has brought about effective and healthy change in those inmates that participate.

Environment
The Power of Art in Crossing Inmates’ Prison Boundaries

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on January 8, 2015

The latest post, by guest blogger Lariza Fenner, illustrates just how art and art therapy can be used to bring prison inmates together who might otherwise be in violently opposing groups.

The latest post, by guest blogger Lariza Fenner, illustrates just how art and art therapy can be used to bring prison inmates together who might otherwise be in violently opposing groups.

Environment
Art in Prison-A Parisian Event

David Gussak Ph.D., ATR-BC on December 11, 2014

What happens when a German prison chaplain, a British CEO of a non-profit organization, a French Sociologist and an American art therapist are brought together in Paris, France by a former banker and his wife, co-directors/producers of documentary films? You get a lively and informative discussion on the value of Art in Prison. Obviously.

What happens when a German prison chaplain, a British CEO of a non-profit organization, a French Sociologist and an American art therapist are brought together in Paris, France by a former banker and his wife, co-directors/producers of documentary films? You get a lively and informative discussion on the value of Art in Prison. Obviously.