EXPRESSING THE UNSPEAKABLE

Cheryl Feldman is a Board Certified Art Therapist, but she’s also an avid photographer with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in photography. Practicing for over 20 years, she shares her expertise and love of art to help the women in Epiphany Center’s Residential Recovery Program to cope with past traumatic stressors including addiction, homelessness, and domestic violence.

“Often, clients feel safer speaking here in art groups, rather than in group therapy where they are looking directly at one another. Here while making art, they can talk easily with each other about say, relationships or recovery work with sponsors,” says Cheryl.

WHAT IS ART THERAPY?

The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as “an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.”

Art therapists, like Cheryl are credentialed mental health professionals who are licensed in some states. Clinicians are trained in psychotherapy and ways to use art media and creative processes to help people cope with mental health challenges. Cheryl is a doctoral candidate in Art Therapy as well as a professor at nearby Dominican University of California, one of only two such Doctor of Philosophy in Art Therapy (PDAT) programs in the United States.

BENEFITS OF ART THERAPY FOR WOMEN IN RECOVERY AT EPIPHANY CENTER

“There is no right or wrong. Art therapy provides an opportunity for the women to express themselves which can influence other areas of their lives,” says Cheryl.  

The women learn the meaning of patience, making mistakes, and trying new things. The fact that they can try novel activities in art therapy parallels their recovery work at Epiphany Center.

“I love when the women walk into their first art group hating art. They come into group saying, ‘I don’t like art. I don’t do art.’ Then, when they leave, they love it,” beams Cheryl. Cheryl lends them her inspiration about art until they feel it too. “I try not to project my ideas about what art is onto them,” adds Cheryl.

Groups comprised of a maximum of eight women are held several times weekly in a quiet second floor room with windows overlooking a small garden. Since the start of the pandemic, Cheryl changed from a structured curriculum to an open studio format. The women are free to choose to work on either collages, paintings, or mixed media pieces. “Art therapy can be calming and meditative. Most of the women find it relaxing. It is one of the few times during their week when they can enjoy a quiet space and let down their guard in a socially-distanced communal environment,” says Cheryl.

Laura, a new Epiphany client and mom to 6-week-old Tommy says, “I had already started a bullet journal. Now during art group, I finally have the time and space to do brush lettering. I’ve always wanted to create pretty bullet journal layouts. I have ADHD so art helps me pay attention. I never had time in the last two years. Now I have time to focus.”

HOW ART THERAPY HELPS IN ADDICTION TREATMENT

While the use of evidence-based practices in the treatment of substance use disorders has attracted substantial research attention, according to a report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate the implementation of complementary and alternative medical practices or CAM, including art therapy has rapidly increased over time.

“With recent advances in science, we now know neurotransmitters in the brain can regenerate if given the opportunity and time,” says Cheryl.  “It may take a while for their brains to settle down: some women in three months, others in one year. That’s why the first year of recovery is so vital. The first three to four weeks of recovery is spent primarily on settling down and getting comfortable,” says Cheryl.

In a recent NPR story, it was noted that Girija Kaimal, a professor at Drexel University and a researcher in art therapy, discovered that “engaging in any sort of visual expression results in the reward pathway in the brain being activated,” suggesting that drawing and painting may have benefits for those dealing with addictive behaviors.

ART THERAPY AS PART OF A UNIQUE HOLISTIC APPROACH AT EPIPHANY CENTER

Epiphany Center, recently named to Newsweek’s list of “America’s Best Addiction Treatment Centers in America,” has chosen to include art therapy for recovery to help the women find hope and healing. Art therapy is used as part of a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed treatment program designed to meet clients where they are at. Other modalities include:

·         Health Education with Nurse Practitioner Melissa Belbahri

·         Psychoeducation

·         Acupuncture

·         Mom and Baby Wellness Walks

·         Life Skills Groups

·         Yoga

Acupuncturist, John Kolenda with residential client.

Ultimately, the programs at Epiphany Center were developed to help the women find the skills and strength within to build healthy, hopeful futures for themselves and their families. The Center offers a unique wellness platform where each aspect of a client’s individual needs for wellbeing are addressed, concurrent with her recovery and mental health goals. This holistic approach leads to a more comprehensive and strength-based recovery. Art therapy groups are a part of this effort to promote healthy habits, self-reliance, and focus.

“I am so inspired when the women are engaged in their own process. It is beautiful to see when they are focused and positive. And what they’re learning in art group is a transferable skill,” says Cheryl.