Many Veterans living with PTSD are discovering the healing powers of creative arts therapy. Congress has taken notice and, in 2016, provided nearly $2 million in funding to support the Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network—a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. The network will add five to its seven existing sites nationwide in 2017, modeled after those currently operating in 60 VA medical centers.
A vast majority of the thousands of Veterans participating in art therapy attest to its benefits. Those living with PTSD may find it challenging to communicate traumatic experiences verbally, but through music and art, these Veterans have been able to tap into and begin processing those difficult memories. This helps clear a path to better coping, adjustment and an enhanced quality of life. Creative arts therapy as part of an integrated care model at VA gives Veterans the emotional outlet they need to heal and recover. Take a look at a few of our Veterans’ creations from the 2016 VA National Center for Ethics in Health Care exhibit, “Unmasking the Trauma of War.”
Do you have a love for creative arts that you’d like to share with our Veterans on their road to recovery? If so, consider using your passion to make a difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes. Explore our available positions and apply today.
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