Matter of Healing: An artistic experiment with a clay therapy method

Sasha Bergstrom-Katz

doi:10.3205/26isfam171

June 12, 2026Open Access

Matter of Healing: An artistic experiment with a clay therapy method

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Key Points

The aim is to explore the therapeutic potential of intuitive clay sculpting in facilitating emotional healing.
Participants engage in clay sculpting with their eyes closed, guided by a therapist.
Similarities with sand play therapy are examined to enhance understanding of clay therapy.
The process involves witnessing and supporting the participant’s creative expression.
Participants showed increased emotional expression during clay sculpting activities.
The use of clay therapy facilitated a deeper connection between emotions and creative processes.
Therapist observations indicated positive shifts in participants' emotional states post-therapy.

Implication

Artistic experiment demonstrates the impact of clay therapy on emotional expression and healing.

Abstract

Matter of Healing borrows its method from psychotherapist Hans Deuser who invented a novel form of clay therapy wherein a patient, eyes closed, intuitively sculpts wet clay and a therapist bears witness. Like its predecessor, sand play therapy, Arbeit am Tonfeld® (or Work at the Clay Field®) [for full text, please go to the a.m. URL]

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Cite This Study

Sasha Bergstrom-Katz (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a2e4779b1cc60ccdea8bfb7 https://doi.org/10.3205/26isfam171

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Matter of Healing: An artistic experiment with a clay therapy method

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Matter of Healing: An artistic experiment with a clay therapy method

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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