Photo By Twana Atkinson | Alice Stewart, the Womack Army Medical Center art therapist, receives a token of...... read more read more
WOMACK ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Mrs. Karen Pence, the Second Lady of the United States recognized several Soldiers and the art therapist from Womack’s Army Medical Center’s Intrepid Spirit Center during her Fort Bragg tour November 2.
One of Pence’s first announcement’s on the White House website states she wants to shine a “spotlight on the mental health profession of art therapy.”
Alice Stewart, the art therapist, is excited about Pence’s initiative as this has been her life-long calling.
“Art itself and helping others has always been therapeutic for me,” said Stewart. “So bringing those two components together and going through the program, helped me recognize what to do with my passion.”
Art therapy is a non-traditional, non-verbal form of therapy that uses the process of creating art with the intent of the art speaking for itself,
Stewart became an art therapist seven years ago after her schooling in Pennsylvania. As of January, she was hired as Fort Bragg’s only art therapist.
In October 2017, Pence launched her new therapy initiative, Healing with the HeArt. She is advocating the benefits of art therapy within the military community.
Sgt. 1st Class Jason Harris, a Soldier in the United States Special Operations Command, was one of two Soldiers whose art was highlighted during. Pence’s visit. Harris’s preferred form of art therapy was crocheting.
“It was nice to find something that was really calming; to finally sit down and have my mind focus on one thing,” said Harris.
Pence asked Harris about the technique he uses and boasts he was far more ahead of her in his crocheting skills.
“It’s funny, you know, to have a big Soldier in Hobby Lobby in the crochet isle asking the senior ladies what crochet technique worked best for them,” Harris said jokingly.
USASOC Soldiers like Harris and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dominique Lewis use various forms of art therapy to help with the healing process within their programs.
Lewis showcased his art using shadow boxes that contained objects that he had emotional attachment to.
He explained to Pence, “I call this piece See Me, Save Me.” He explained how the shadow box with military bullets and sand is the image he portrays as a Soldier and a family man. The next shadow box had a box of cigarettes, a liquor brand sign, beer bottle caps and pills simulating the struggles he battles everyday trying not to remember some of the things he’s been through.
Stewart states that two of the biggest injuries within the Fort Bragg military community are traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorders.
These two injuries damage the area of the brain responsible for speech and language. Art therapy offers another outlet to express themselves and build on establishing healthy coping skills.
I prescribe art as a form of medicine, said Stewart.
The Soldiers who came in cautious are now big believers in the program.
“I have taken this home and even do it outside of the session,” said Lewis.
Pence encouraged the group with her final words, “I just want you to know it takes just as much courage for you to do what you do in uniform as it does to for you to reach out and participate in this program. Thank you for what you do.”
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.06.2018 11:17 |
| Story ID: | 298930 |
| Location: | FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 96 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Mrs. Pence highlights Soldiers' crafts using Art Therapy, by Twana Atkinson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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