Shirley Riley was an art therapist who focused on family and group art therapy. She worked with multi-family groups, Hispanic families, at-risk youth, and burn patients. Some of her theories included social constructionism and narrative therapy. She emphasized allowing clients to remain in control of their creative process and not over-interpreting the images they create.

1. Shirley Riley
a focus on family/group art therapy

2. Presentation Outline
Why I chose Shirley Riley
An Introduction of her life: Personal & Professional
Theories and Relatable Quotes
Clients and Work Setting
Materials and Directives: Short Experiential
Eight Key Themes for Group/Family Art Therapists

3. Why I chose Shirley Riley:
“My goal has always been to be
aesthetically pragmatic. That
means, to me, an artistic,
creative approach to helping
families solve hard problems in
their immediate world.”
Riley, Shirley (1994). Integrative Approaches to Family
Art Therapy, Magnolia Street Publishers, Chicago Il,
U.S.

4. Personal Life
Wife
Mother / Grandmother
Inspiring
Warm Caring Heart
Role Model

5. Professional Life
On the board of several committees including the
AATA for 6 years
Educated future Art Therapists at Immaculate
Heart and Loyola Marymount University in L.A.
for 18 years
Worked at Didi Hirsch Mental Health
Community Agency in L.A. for 18 years
Provided her services at several centres in her
community such as the OPICA, Cedars Sinai
Hospital and the Grossman Burn Centre
Spoke at numerous conferences internationally

6. Theories and Quotes
Social Constructionist
Narrative Theorist
Clinical Art Therapist

7. “ We see our theories and the application of treatment through the externalized art
products of our clients. We listen to language and the stories our clients tell. Through
this duality of knowing we co-create alternative meaning to these tales. We rely on the
silent information provided through the visual illustrations of the narrative which
inform our contributions and observations. This combination results in the formation
of alternative views of the clients tale.”
Riley, Shirley (1994). Integrative Approaches to Family Art Therapy,
Magnolia Street Publishers, Chicago Il, U.S.

8. “ My observation is that a therapist’s style, to a degree, is an extension of their own
life experience and personality.”
Riley, Shirley (1994). Integrative Approaches to Family Art Therapy,
Magnolia Street Publishers, Chicago Il, U.S.

9. “I think falling in love with many theories and getting high on a successful session is
a fantastic way of life. I hope I have the talent to convey my enthusiasm for the
process of clinical art therapy integrated with the theories of family practice.”
Riley, Shirley (1994). Integrative Approaches to Family Art Therapy,
Magnolia Street Publishers, Chicago Il, U.S.

10. Clients
Multi- family groups
Hispanic families
At risk youth
Children and teenage burn patients

11. Work Setting
Social Systems, Financial restraints, Political
pressures, Cultural tension and Rising crime
Forced to work within the ‘here and now’

12. Materials
Coloured pencils
Washable markers in various sizes
Oil pastels
Oil infused clay (does not dry)
Air drying clay
Chalk pastels
Paint daubers
Tempera/Acrylics
Watercolours
Craft sticks, plain and coloured
Collage folder
Paper in various sizes, colours, textures
Glue sticks
White school glue
Safety scissors
Pencils
Paper plates of various sizes for supplies and to work on
Boxes and containers for supplies and as environments
Paint brushes
Wipes and paper towels
Fun supplies to expand directives
Fabric scraps
Sequins, buttons, fake jewels
Pipe cleaners
Feathers
‘Found’ objects such as twigs leaves and small stones

13. Directive Samples
Hello - Trace members hands on the paper and decorate however they want. When finished cut it out. Then
share to say hello to the new person, and glue all the hands together on a large sheet of paper
Hello Collage - Have members pick two or three pictures out of things they like or want or are good at. Glue
them on paper and decorate. Share the pictures
Group Banner - Decide a name or theme for the group. Each person draws a contribution on a piece of paper
then glued to a banner

14. Class Experiential

15. 1.
Verbal and Visual Communication

16. 2.
Channeling art expressions

17. 3.
Art not an Aesthetic Statement

18. 4.
Internal Concepts Into Externalized

19. 5.
Ability to Represent

20. 6.
Clients Remain in Control and Observe

21. 7.
Don’t invest in interpreting images

22. 8.
Own creative thinking