Healing Veterans Through Creativity – As we honor the sacrifices of our military members this July, creative expression through art therapy is emerging as an effective approach to support healing for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other challenges of adjusting to life after service.
After overcoming profound loss through painting myself, I created Painting Your Soul to share art’s therapeutic benefits with others, including veterans. Recently, I witnessed the impact of my workshops firsthand while working with veterans at Quantum Leap Farm. Watching them express emotions through painting and journaling, I felt honored to facilitate a safe space where they could find relief without fear or judgment. The experience validated the importance of Painting Your Soul’s program within the veteran community.
Tears came to my eyes as these amazing heroes beautifully worked through their emotions with a paintbrush and journal in hand. They described feeling safe enough to express themselves, which was incredibly heartwarming. I was deeply touched by the sight of these brave individuals allowing their walls to come down, embracing their truth through art – a powerful reminder of why this work is so vital and sacred.
Improved Expression and Connection
A 2016 study in the Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health validates art therapy’s positive impacts, including improved ability to express difficult thoughts, enhanced social connections reducing isolation, and reduced re-experiencing, hypervigilance, and avoidance symptoms.
“The ability to just ‘express’ is what I’ve loved the most about this,” said one of our Army veteran participants at Quantum Leap. “I’ve never really had a chance to let go, until now.”
Participants’ testimonials from our Quantum Leap workshop were profound. They not only shared their stories and the workshop’s impact but also took home our art therapy kits to continue therapeutic exercises on their own.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
A National Library of Medicine study found that art therapy, combined with cognitive processing therapy, helps veterans confront trauma-related avoidance and barriers and provides “a positive form of expression, especially for painful emotions,” compared to clinical treatment alone.
Veterans I’ve worked with have found their art therapy kits to be a valuable coping mechanism during moments of anxiety and PTSD episodes.
“Since returning from deployment, I’ve suffered from PTSD that I really can’t control,” Army veteran Anthony told me after our workshop. “But what I can control is my heart and the happiness I experience. This workshop is helping me with that.”
Another veteran, Karen, admitted, “Initially, I felt anxious about participating in this workshop. But once I began painting, I felt a sense of calm and liberation, let myself go, and totally forgot my anxiety.”
Through Painting Your Soul programs, I’ve witnessed other advantages for veterans, including:
Elevated Mood and Outlook
Studies show that engaging in art can improve mood by increasing dopamine production, which is linked to feelings of well-being. Veterans struggling with hopelessness or depression often report restored optimism after creative therapy.
“In my painting, I drew colors that represent my wife and kids, my service dog, and even the PTSD itself,” said Anthony. “It’s helping me feel love and hope that I didn’t have in my own upbringing.”
Greater Vitality and Passion
By exploring their unique creativity through open-ended art projects, many veterans tap into deep-down passions and fresh perspectives. The judgment-free artistic outlet allows restricted emotions to flow freely, reinvigorating the mind, body, and spirit.
“Before this workshop, I felt unsettled, disconnected, and couldn’t express myself,” Marine veteran Trevin shared in the Quantum Leap workshop. “But as I painted and experimented with different techniques, I felt grounded.”
Enhanced Brain Function
Art stimulates cognitive function and neural connectivity, improving focus and memory and offering positive reinforcement against trauma triggers.
At the core, art therapy provides an accessible tool for processing experiences too complex or painful to put into words. Metaphorically representing emotions through visual expression provides a non-threatening avenue to tackle challenges.
“My painting represents my current journey,” shared William, another Army veteran in my workshop, describing his drawing: “The sun makes me feel less lonely, the book is my upcoming schooling, and a child is my son, who I’ll be coming home to get soon.”
A July Celebration of Healing
The rising popularity of art therapy among veterans offers hope that creative expression can brighten new paths toward healing. At Painting Your Soul, our mission includes helping trauma survivors, including veterans, to harness their creativity for personal growth.
As I witnessed from the positive responses at Quantum Leap Farm, each art therapy session has the potential to shed light on life’s most challenging moments.
If you or a loved one are a veteran in need of healing through creative expression, explore the transformative power of Painting Your Soul. Our workshops, expressive arts kits, and online resources provide a supportive environment to rediscover your innate creativity and start on a journey of self-discovery and wholeness.
Visit Painting Your Soul today to learn more about our work veterans, those suffering from grief, anxiety, or depression, and how you can unleash the therapeutic benefits of art. The path to healing begins with a single brushstroke.
- Order your Soul Care™ box or learn more about Painting Your Soul on our website.
- Read more from our VIP Executive Contributor Karen Hanlon.