Poiesis

'Stephen K Levine is one of the few contemporary expressive therapists to have the courage to develop an understanding of the multiplicity in the theoretical foundations of a domain as wide and complex as the arts and psychotherapy... His deep roots in the philosophical tradition and thorough knowledge of more than one mode of theory and practice shine through this honest work... Texts of such achievement can only be created by a writer who has a deep understanding and firm faith in the speech of the soul and a masterful eloquence in the language of psychology. Whoever listens to this book may be enriched by the complexity unfolding in human existence, suffering and healing.'
- from the foreword by Paolo Knill

Stephen K. Levine argues that poiesis, the creative act, is also the act by which we affirm our identity and humanity; in exploring this subject he shows the essential affinity of the creative and the therapeutic processes and explores the nature of creative acts. This book looks in detail at the connections between expressive arts, such as poetry, and psychology and develops understanding of the theoretical foundations which connect the arts and psychotherapy. It considers the context in which modern therapy emerged and looks at various aspects of different arts therapies. It provides a much-needed step in the theoretical underpinning of the expressive therapies.