Art therapy, according to the American Art Therapy Association, is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is three pronged, involving the art, the therapist, and the patient.
Through active art-making and creative processes, this therapy effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals. Art therapy is an integrative mental health treatment available for inpatient service members at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.
NMCP’s art therapy program caught the attention of Karen Pence, Second Lady of the United States of America. Pence visited NMCP on April 24 to view artwork made by patients and visit with a selected few who were actively creating artistic masks. She also met with NMCP’s three art therapists, Jeanne Munden, Kevin D'Augustine, and Courtney Bennett.
In October 2017, she launched her art therapy initiative, “Healing with the HEart”. The initiative promotes art therapy as a mental health profession, not just arts and crafts; to help people understand art therapy is a treatment option for various conditions, illnesses, and life experiences; and encourage young people into the profession.