Don Jones
Encyclopedia
Don Jones is an American artist
and art therapist, fourth American Art Therapy Association
(AATA) President, Honorary Life Member of AATA, and one of five founders of the American Art Therapy Association.
. Jones’ contributions to the field of art therapy
include serving in professional and community positions. In addition, as one of the five founding members of American Art Therapy Association
(AATA), he was influential in the formation of the ATAA. Jones also served as president, training influential art therapists and creating permanent pieces of artwork.
Don Jones almost drowned at the age of four but was rescued and resuscitated by his older brother. Jones first started drawing after his near-drowning. He credits art with helping him overcome the traumatic
experience. For 16 years, he repeatedly drew and painted boats and different forms of water. He mastered visual representation of water surfaces by that time, which helped him to process the drowning incident by re-enacting it through his art. As a teenager, Jones taught himself to paint, starting with oils. He realized during the art process that it was different from the art curriculum he learned in school. Don felt release.
At the age of 18, Jones registered for World War II
draft as a “conscientious observer.” He also enrolled at Marietta College
to study theology
and medicine
, but quit after the first year. At 19, he became a member of the Civilian Public Service
Corps, and volunteered to work in the Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital
for the following three years. Jones worked alone in the wards with the chronically mentally ill, eight hours a day, six days a week. In Bruce Moon
’s film, Art is Life is Art, Jones said the Marlboro State Hospital was where he recognized how art positively affected patients. He called the state hospital his “university of psychiatry”.
Jones had a theme for art therapists to remember: “openness creates openness.” His drowning experience as a child taught him that phrase, and the time at the state hospital reinforced it. The thought behind this expression is—if a person opens himself emotionally to others, the safer those people will feel with him.
Jones found work as a commercial artist after World War II and settled into Rossville, Kansas
with his wife and two sons. In this community, he served as a pastor
, artist, mentor
and friend to many people. Always an artist before any other role, Don did not leave a blank wall unpainted in Rossville. He formed a group to help paint murals at the high school and community center, continued his own series of paintings, and taught a night class. Some of his students had connections to the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas
, and Don soon received a call from Karl Menninger
. Dr. Menninger wanted to show his paintings. Jones said to exhibit his paintings, Menninger had to hire him on staff.
Don had his way, and was hired in 1951 to join the adjunctive staff at the world-famous psychiatric facility. It was at the Menninger clinic where Don Jones developed a drawing assessment that used mental imagery. Called the “Don Jones Assessment”, it combined guided imagery and drawing while patients remained in a relaxed state. Subjects imagined a journey, and stopped at four important points. At each point, they were asked how they would proceed, and drew a picture of the imagery. Each invented situation was cautiously designed to embody a different kind of universally stressful problem. Structured questions followed the exercises. The “Don Jones Assessment” was found to be useful in both assessing and treating individuals.
Menninger hired Margaret Naumburg by Jones' suggestion, and helped to establish a new concept of "process vs. content" at the hospital. Jones’ view was to pay attention each patient’s art process, while Naumburg’s position was to psychoanalyze the content or result of every art piece.
In his 16 years at Menninger, Jones also trained Robert "Bob" Ault
, which led to Ault’s hiring at the foundation in 1960. Jones and Ault started to consider the art process as a diagnostic tool. Together, they pioneered to develop some of the first clinical internship training programs in the United States, and acted on the Steering Committee that established the American Art Therapy Association.
It was not until 1969 when the American Art Therapy Association became nationally known; this formation recognized art therapy as a professional field. By this time, Jones worked as the director of the adjunctive therapies department in Harding Hospital for two years. Located in Worthington, Ohio
, the hospital developed and acted upon the idea that every possible experience could be therapeutic. In 1974, Bruce Moon
was hired onto the staff after a one-year clinical apprenticeship. Don Jones became his mentor, and continues to be today. To Moon, Jones is a father, a legend and a friend.
As an art therapist, Jones relied on the arts and the self. In order to be of help to another, it is important to know oneself. He stressed that in order to be an art therapist, one needs to be an artist. Being away from studio for too long caused burnout
of an art therapist, Jones described. Unlike other mental health
professionals, Jones was insistent that the patients' or clients' work is theirs to keep. They are the artists.
Even in retirement, Don Jones is still an active painter in his art studio. He continues to assist the Worthington Area Art League that started in his basement 35 years ago, supervise students and consult with various treatment programs.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and art therapist, fourth American Art Therapy Association
American Art Therapy Association
The American Art Therapy Association is a U.S. national professional association of over 5,000 practicing art therapists, students, educators, and related practitioners in the field of art therapy, with both U.S. and international members...
(AATA) President, Honorary Life Member of AATA, and one of five founders of the American Art Therapy Association.
Life and Work
Don Jones is recognized as one of the pioneers of art therapyArt therapy
Because of its dual origins in art and psychotherapy, art therapy definitions vary. They commonly either lean more toward the ART art-making process as therapeutic in and of itself, "art as therapy," or focus on the psychotherapeutic transference process between the therapist and the client who...
. Jones’ contributions to the field of art therapy
Art therapy
Because of its dual origins in art and psychotherapy, art therapy definitions vary. They commonly either lean more toward the ART art-making process as therapeutic in and of itself, "art as therapy," or focus on the psychotherapeutic transference process between the therapist and the client who...
include serving in professional and community positions. In addition, as one of the five founding members of American Art Therapy Association
American Art Therapy Association
The American Art Therapy Association is a U.S. national professional association of over 5,000 practicing art therapists, students, educators, and related practitioners in the field of art therapy, with both U.S. and international members...
(AATA), he was influential in the formation of the ATAA. Jones also served as president, training influential art therapists and creating permanent pieces of artwork.
Don Jones almost drowned at the age of four but was rescued and resuscitated by his older brother. Jones first started drawing after his near-drowning. He credits art with helping him overcome the traumatic
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
experience. For 16 years, he repeatedly drew and painted boats and different forms of water. He mastered visual representation of water surfaces by that time, which helped him to process the drowning incident by re-enacting it through his art. As a teenager, Jones taught himself to paint, starting with oils. He realized during the art process that it was different from the art curriculum he learned in school. Don felt release.
At the age of 18, Jones registered for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
draft as a “conscientious observer.” He also enrolled at Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
to study theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, but quit after the first year. At 19, he became a member of the Civilian Public Service
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
Corps, and volunteered to work in the Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital
Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital
Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital was a hospital in Marlboro, New Jersey which was run by the State of New Jersey. Construction on the hospital began in 1929. It first opened in early 1931. According to the site plan the hospital's campus was on . There is a perimeter fence which completely enclosed...
for the following three years. Jones worked alone in the wards with the chronically mentally ill, eight hours a day, six days a week. In Bruce Moon
Bruce Moon
Bruce Moon is an American Art therapist, educator, artist, and author. He is also a singer/songwriter who has recorded several albums. He is an Honorary Life Member of the American Art Therapy Association , which is their most prestigious honor given to outstanding contributors to the field of Art...
’s film, Art is Life is Art, Jones said the Marlboro State Hospital was where he recognized how art positively affected patients. He called the state hospital his “university of psychiatry”.
Jones had a theme for art therapists to remember: “openness creates openness.” His drowning experience as a child taught him that phrase, and the time at the state hospital reinforced it. The thought behind this expression is—if a person opens himself emotionally to others, the safer those people will feel with him.
Jones found work as a commercial artist after World War II and settled into Rossville, Kansas
Rossville, Kansas
Rossville is a city in Shawnee County, Kansas, United States. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
with his wife and two sons. In this community, he served as a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, artist, mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
and friend to many people. Always an artist before any other role, Don did not leave a blank wall unpainted in Rossville. He formed a group to help paint murals at the high school and community center, continued his own series of paintings, and taught a night class. Some of his students had connections to the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, and Don soon received a call from Karl Menninger
Karl Menninger
Karl Augustus Menninger , was an American psychiatrist and a member of the famous Menninger family of psychiatrists who founded the Menninger Foundation and the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas.- Biography :...
. Dr. Menninger wanted to show his paintings. Jones said to exhibit his paintings, Menninger had to hire him on staff.
Don had his way, and was hired in 1951 to join the adjunctive staff at the world-famous psychiatric facility. It was at the Menninger clinic where Don Jones developed a drawing assessment that used mental imagery. Called the “Don Jones Assessment”, it combined guided imagery and drawing while patients remained in a relaxed state. Subjects imagined a journey, and stopped at four important points. At each point, they were asked how they would proceed, and drew a picture of the imagery. Each invented situation was cautiously designed to embody a different kind of universally stressful problem. Structured questions followed the exercises. The “Don Jones Assessment” was found to be useful in both assessing and treating individuals.
Menninger hired Margaret Naumburg by Jones' suggestion, and helped to establish a new concept of "process vs. content" at the hospital. Jones’ view was to pay attention each patient’s art process, while Naumburg’s position was to psychoanalyze the content or result of every art piece.
In his 16 years at Menninger, Jones also trained Robert "Bob" Ault
Robert "Bob" Ault
Robert "Bob" Ault was an art therapist in Kansas, co-founder of American Art Therapy Association, founder of the Master's of Science in Art Therapy program at Emporia State University, and founder of the Kansas Art Therapy Association...
, which led to Ault’s hiring at the foundation in 1960. Jones and Ault started to consider the art process as a diagnostic tool. Together, they pioneered to develop some of the first clinical internship training programs in the United States, and acted on the Steering Committee that established the American Art Therapy Association.
It was not until 1969 when the American Art Therapy Association became nationally known; this formation recognized art therapy as a professional field. By this time, Jones worked as the director of the adjunctive therapies department in Harding Hospital for two years. Located in Worthington, Ohio
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
, the hospital developed and acted upon the idea that every possible experience could be therapeutic. In 1974, Bruce Moon
Bruce Moon
Bruce Moon is an American Art therapist, educator, artist, and author. He is also a singer/songwriter who has recorded several albums. He is an Honorary Life Member of the American Art Therapy Association , which is their most prestigious honor given to outstanding contributors to the field of Art...
was hired onto the staff after a one-year clinical apprenticeship. Don Jones became his mentor, and continues to be today. To Moon, Jones is a father, a legend and a friend.
As an art therapist, Jones relied on the arts and the self. In order to be of help to another, it is important to know oneself. He stressed that in order to be an art therapist, one needs to be an artist. Being away from studio for too long caused burnout
Burnout (psychology)
Burnout is a psychological term for the experience of long-term exhaustion and diminished interest. Research indicates general practitioners have the highest proportion of burnout cases; according to a recent Dutch study in Psychological Reports, no less than 40% of these experienced high levels of...
of an art therapist, Jones described. Unlike other mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
professionals, Jones was insistent that the patients' or clients' work is theirs to keep. They are the artists.
Even in retirement, Don Jones is still an active painter in his art studio. He continues to assist the Worthington Area Art League that started in his basement 35 years ago, supervise students and consult with various treatment programs.