ABSTRACT

Language not only expresses but shapes how we understand the world, each other, and ourselves. Words serve a key role in maintaining cultural norms and values regarding which experiences and identities are considered valuable, normal, and powerful and which are considered abnormal, pathological, and even nonhuman. As such, there is no objective, least-offensive, neutral language that does not perpetuate the status quo. This article contributes a critical discussion of the power of words to harm in the context of art therapy, and offers helpful examples of how art therapists can disrupt oppression in language. The authors clarify that anti-oppressive, conscious language is not about censorship, language policing, or being politically correct; rather, it is about centering care and avoiding harm. Strategies are offered for recognizing how dehumanizing, invisibilizing, and pathologizing language may show up in art therapy, and how to counter oppressive language in day-to-day practice. With greater attention to how they use words, art therapists may begin to incorporate conscious language into their skillset as another art form that is attentive to culture, power, and care. Cultivating a liberatory mental model—oriented toward a future that is free from all forms of violence and where all life, all identities and experiences, and all ways of making meaning are equally honored and valued—can affect not only our language but also our entire practice and understanding of art therapy.

Plain language summary

Language plays a key role in how we understand the world, each other, and ourselves. It often keeps cultural rules and norms in place by naming certain experiences and identities as ‘valuable,’ ‘normal,’ and ‘powerful’ and others as ‘abnormal,’ ‘damaged,’ and even nonhuman. Trying to speak and write objectively and not offend people is a well-intentioned goal, but doing this keeps an oppressive status quo intact and can also increase self-conscious feelings of guilt and shame.

This article argues that instead of focusing on the ‘right words’ that avoid offense, conscious language focuses on care and avoiding harm. We note that much everyday language is unconscious and unquestioned. Art therapists risk causing harm when they are not aware of how they use words to talk and write about people, their practices, and the different cultures they encounter in their work.

We offer examples of harmful language and effective ways to counter it in daily practice, along with the empowering idea that by bringing conscious language into their work, art therapists can consider words to be another art form and a tool for being attentive to culture, power, and care. Practices that promote a mental model based in freedom from violence and valuing all people are described as a powerful way to change not only our language but the practice of art therapy itself.

中文翻译：

---

语言就是力量：艺术治疗实践中的反压迫、有意识的语言

摘要

语言不仅表达而且塑造我们如何理解世界、彼此和我们自己。言语在维持文化规范和价值观方面发挥着关键作用，在这些规范和价值观中，经验和身份被认为是有价值的、正常的和强大的，而哪些则被认为是异常的、病态的，甚至是非人类的。因此，没有任何客观的、攻击性最小的、中立的语言能够维持现状。本文对艺术治疗背景下言语伤害的力量进行了批判性讨论，并提供了艺术治疗师如何打破语言压迫的有用示例。作者澄清，反压迫的、有意识的语言与审查制度、语言监管或政治正确无关；而是与审查制度有关。相反，它是关于集中护理和避免伤害。本书提供了一些策略来认识艺术治疗中如何出现非人化、隐形化和病态化的语言，以及如何在日常实践中对抗压迫性语言。随着更多地关注他们如何使用语言，艺术治疗师可能会开始将有意识的语言纳入他们的技能中，作为另一种关注文化、权力和关怀的艺术形式。培养一种解放性的思维模式——面向一个没有一切形式暴力的未来，所有生命、所有身份和经历以及所有创造意义的方式都受到同等尊重和重视——不仅可以影响我们的语言，还可以影响我们的整个世界。艺术治疗的实践和理解。随着更多地关注他们如何使用语言，艺术治疗师可能会开始将有意识的语言纳入他们的技能中，作为另一种关注文化、权力和关怀的艺术形式。培养一种解放性的思维模式——面向一个没有一切形式暴力的未来，所有生命、所有身份和经历以及所有创造意义的方式都受到同等尊重和重视——不仅可以影响我们的语言，还可以影响我们的整个世界。艺术治疗的实践和理解。随着更多地关注他们如何使用语言，艺术治疗师可能会开始将有意识的语言纳入他们的技能中，作为另一种关注文化、权力和关怀的艺术形式。培养一种解放性的思维模式——面向一个没有一切形式暴力的未来，所有生命、所有身份和经历以及所有创造意义的方式都受到同等尊重和重视——不仅可以影响我们的语言，还可以影响我们的整个世界。艺术治疗的实践和理解。

通俗易懂的语言总结

语言在我们如何理解世界、彼此和我们自己方面发挥着关键作用。它通常通过将某些经历和身份命名为“有价值”、“正常”和“强大”，而将其他经历和身份命名为“异常”、“受损”甚至非人类来维持文化规则和规范。尝试客观地说话和写作而不冒犯他人是一个善意的目标，但这样做会保持压迫性的现状完好无损，也会增加自我意识的内疚感和羞耻感。

本文认为，有意识的语言不是关注避免冒犯的“正确词语”，而是关注关心和避免伤害。我们注意到，许多日常语言是无意识且不容质疑的。当艺术治疗师不知道如何使用语言来谈论和书写人们、他们的实践以及他们在工作中遇到的不同文化时，他们就有造成伤害的风险。

我们提供了有害语言的例子以及在日常实践中应对有害语言的有效方法，以及通过将有意识的语言引入他们的工作中，艺术治疗师可以将语言视为另一种艺术形式和关注文化、权力的工具。和关怀。促进基于免于暴力和重视所有人的心理模式的实践被描述为不仅可以改变我们的语言而且可以改变艺术治疗实践本身的强大方法。