Abstract

Responding to the increased interest in the integration of expressive arts and ecotherapy, this book presents a nature based approach to expressive arts work. It provides an overview of the two fields, emphasizing how they can enrich and learn from each other, and highlights attitudes and practices in expressive arts that are particularly relevant to working with nature. This includes cultivating an aesthetic response to the earth, the relationship between beauty and sustainability, and lessons about art and nature from indigenous cultures. Four suggested structures for a nature based expressive arts activity - including writing, body, and ritual centered - are provided in the appendices.
Sally and Melia encourage us to trust the materials of nature, wherever and whatever we find, to help shape the curves and movements of a mutually informed dance of expression.
Per Espen Stoknes, author of 'What We Think About When We Try Not to Think About Climate Change'
A much needed and awaited book that will greatly contribute to expressive arts therapy. In a poetic way, it establishes the bases on a philosophical, theoretical and practical level for the integration of nature in the field of health, arts and transformation. Our world urgently needs us to start practicing and living the ideas of sustainability and care laid out by Sally and Melia.
José Miguel Calderon, PhD, Director of TAE Perú
We have become postmodern slaves of an online world, obsessed with speed, in a manic push for economic growth. We try to fix the problems quickly in order to return to business as usual. Atkins and Snyder proclaim an expressive arts therapy, based on communion and ecological presence. Beauty is seen as a life force that awakens us, and inspires us to create hope. As we face new challenges we need new approaches of restoration and healing - Atkins and Snyder went a step ahead.
P.J. Knill, founding president of European Graduate School (EGS), and M. N. Fuchs Knill, Dean of the Arts, Health and Society Division of EGS

Sally Atkins is Core Faculty of the European Graduate School, Switzerland and Professor Emerita and Founder of the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at Appalachian State University, NC. Melia Snyder is the coordinator of the Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate at Appalachian State University.