Painting A Path of Well-being: Art Therapy as a Link to Mental Health Treatment

Abstract

Engaging people in treatment is a primary concern at a community outpatient day treatment program serving 280 adults with severe mental illness and chemical dependencies. Goals include stabilizing one's life in order to remain out of the hospital and gaining skills to live more independently. The immediate focus is directed towards monitored medications and attendance at the weekday program that provides breakfast, lunch, and a variety of educational and therapeutic groups and activities. The art therapy program consists of two weekly groups, a gallery for exhibiting client artwork, and a quarterly newsletter for sharing art and writing produced by the community. Art therapy has proven to be a strong link to treatment for many individualsand fosters stability that will pave the way to a greater sense of well-being and success in achieving greater independence. Case material from one consumer of this program is presented in the following discussion.

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