Bridging the silence

This book integrates nonverbal modalities - visual imagery, kinesthetic imagery, and body movement - into verbal psychotherapy with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. These survivors often have difficulty verbalizing their memories and their pain. The use of nonverbal modalities may assist them in transforming the silence of childhood into the language of the adult. Based on her work with women survivors, the author presents explicit exercises, case examples, and patients' artwork demonstrating the use of art and movement therapies in the context of goal-specific treatment. Each task is carefully selected to match the phase of therapy and to meet one of three goals: containment, exploration, or expression. Within this framework, nonverbal modalities can be used to enrich the assessment process, contain flashbacks, create a safe environment, develop coping mechanisms, connect body and mind and enhance creative problem-solving. In addition, the author shows how to use art and movement strategies in memory retrieval, anger work, and development of a sense of self. In the hands of sensitive, well-trained therapists, nonverbal modalities can be a powerful addition to the treatment of sexual abuse survivors. Susan Simonds bridges creative arts therapy and survivor therapy to enable therapists to make the most of this power.