Expressive Arts for Social Work and Social Change

How can social work practice be enriched by complementary approaches and methods from expressive arts? This book responds by offering concepts and values that promote individual and social change and transformation. The text is enhanced by examples, reflection questions, and resources.

How can social workers integrate expressive arts methods as a complement to their work to better support individual, group, and community growth? Expressive Arts for Social Work and Social Change explores the values and benefits of expressive arts (i.e. visual arts, movement and dance, expressive forms of writing and narrative, music, and performance) and the role they can play in social work practice and inquiry. Descriptions of projects that feature integrated expressive arts methods clearly reveal the vast potential of the arts and their power to effect individual and social change. Although previous research has illustrated the efficacy of expressive arts to individual therapeutic goals, this is the first work that looks at the use of these approaches to fulfill the values, ethics, and principles of the social work profession. The contributors draw from current and emerging concepts related to green social work, including individual and collective well-being; Indigenous perspectives and practices; social justice and social action; and individual as well as collective creative expression. This book provides insight and advice that will benefit all human service professionals interested in expressive arts.