Loss of a Son and Soldier
“Diana Mihalakis was pursuing a sculpture degree at San Jose State University when she learned that her 18-year-old son, Mike, had died in Baghdad in 2003, the day after Christmas.
The loss was so traumatic, she put a hold on her educational plans. Three years later, too sad to make art, she enrolled in a poetry class on campus. The pieces she composed and recited for class helped her explore her pain and loss, eventually transitioning her back into sculpture. As a testament to the power of the poetry, she created accompanying sculptures of metal and glass that grew out of individual poems.”
View a video of Diana describing her artwork and poetry here.
For more information on this exhibit in San Jose, CA, running from June 3rd — 11th please check the Milpitas Patch here and here.
Art Therapy Infiltrates the Department of Defense…
…using comic books!
“Art therapy and narrative are both useful techniques for helping individuals traumatized by life experiences process memories and channel emotions through a healthy outlet,”
Art Therapy with Deaf Children in Oakland, CA
Read about Brian Berlinski, who works at DeafHope, helping children process sexual abuse and trauma.
In Search of Self Love
This video, by Rita Loyd, was submitted to an online film festival on culture unplugged. In Search of Self Love explored the creative process, and how it helped Rita in her introspective and spiritual journey towards discovering her meaning of self-love.
Art Therapy and Military Sexual Trauma
Read about Jessica Kenyon, a veteran herself, who works with survivors of military sexual trauma.
Abuse Survivor Blogs
As a therapist, I think it’s important to stay connected with the struggle our clients face when coming forward about past abuse, learning ways to manage symptoms and then maintaining the ability to cope in a healthier way. Here are 3 blogs written by survivors that I find candid, honest and insightful:
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