Art as Therapy

Over thirty years of scientific investigation have demonstrated that creative expression can alter not just moods but overall outcomes. The application of creative and expressive therapies as part of treatment plans has recently shown significant and sustained benefit at leading institutions such as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, The National Intrepid Center of Excellence and various VA institutions across the country.

Conditions that prove suitable candidates for the ameliorative power of art are:Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI). New approaches are urgently needed to help active service members suffering from PTSD and TBI thrive on duty and successfully transition to civilian life. The Foundation for Art And Healing is committed to extending the impact of this early field work by bringing   greater awareness of how art and creative engagement powerfully influence the overall healing of PTSD and TBI.

In Recent years there has been increased interest in the relationship between art and healing in the medical world. More than three hundred professional  organizations are researching, documenting and systematizing how engagement with the creative process impacts the development of disease and the likelihood of 

recovery.

There has been a similar focus within the arts community. Often based upon their personal experience with illness; painters, dancers, sculptures, writers and arts educators have realized the power of the creative

John B.