Art Therapy Transforms Warriors into Artists
Submitted by Steve on November 15, 2011
This week, BBC premiered the film "Art for Heroes," an examination of the role of art therapy in the rehabilitation of military persons who are now combating post-traumatic stress disorder. From Cathy Malchiodi at Psychology Today:
Art making is pitched as an "unlikely weapon" against trauma reactions and presenter Tim Samuels explores just how drawing, painting and imagination are helping veterans to repair and recover from the psychological wounds of war.
Included is the work of Lukas Konopka, a professor of neurology in Chicago, who has investigated the effects of art therapy on the brain in the treatment of PTSD. To view clips of this BBC production, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0175nz8.
Meanwhile, ABC News has a nice piece on how music has played a central role in the rehabilitation of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Watch that video here. She sings Cyndy Lauper! And Tom Petty!