In this text, Frances Kaplan urges art therapists to be more scientifically-minded in their research and practice. She investigates research from art history, anthropology, evolutionary biology, medicine, neuroscience and psychology.

In this text, Frances Kaplan urges art therapists to be more scientifically-minded in their research and practice. Proposing that study of the findings of other disciplines is crucial to the development and reinforcement of the field of art therapy, she investigates research from art history, anthropology, evolutionary biology, medicine, neuroscience and psychology, and feeds it into our current understanding of art therapy. Kaplan also examines the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of artistic expression to emphasise the importance of an art-based therapy.

Art and science
the importance of research
implications of current findings
psychotherapy theory
its limitations and failures
benefits of artmaking - the scientific evidence
towards an art-based theory of art therapy
a call for dialogue.