When Art Therapy Meets Sex Therapy Creative Explorations of Sex, Gender, and Relationships

Appropriate for both sex therapists and art therapists, When Art Therapy Meets Sex Therapy explores sexuality and gender through the use of art making, connecting relevant theories and research from both fields. It begins with a historical review of how explorations of anatomy, physiology, and sexual identity manifested in art making in different cultures and discusses why a clinician must take these spiritual, medical, and socioeconomic factors in account to offer effective and culturally competent therapy. The second part of the book discusses clinically effective treatments in art and sex therapy, and contains numerous case illustrations. Included are interventions for important issues in therapy, such as exploring gender identity, sexual health and shame, processing sexual abuse, couples' intimacy, parenting concerns regarding their children's sexuality, and treating sex addiction.

Preface Outline of the Book I: Why Should We Explore Sexuality Creatively? 1. Where Art Therapy and Sex Therapy Intertwine 2. Creative Assessments of Sexual Needs and Wants 3. The Visual Cultures of Sexuality 4. The Many Layers of Sexuality II: Implementation 5. Exploring Gender Identity Through Art Making 6. Sexual Health, Behaviors, and Shame, Explored Through Art Making 7. Treating Sexual Abuse While Integrating Body, Mind, and Spirit 8. Envisioning the Interpersonal Space in Couples’ Lives, Through Art 9. Art Interventions for Parenting Issues Related to Sexuality 10. Love, Sex, and Addiction – Exploring the Hunger Games 11. Concluding Thoughts – The Art of Embracing Our Most Intimate Selves Reference

Einat S. Metzl, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a registered, board-certified art therapist, with additional training in sex therapy and play therapy. She is an assistant professor at Loyola Marymount University and works with individuals and couples in her private practice office in Los Angeles, California.