Veterans As Artists: A Partnership with Community Arts and Art Therapy (N/NY-SC6142)
Papers
Karen Bladergroen, MS, ATR-BC
I am an art therapist for the Arts in Optimal Health Program at Eastern Virginia Medical Group. I provide art therapy programming in community-based art centers and museums for veterans. I teach in the Art Therapy and Counseling graduate program at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Mary Roberts, Program Director & Associate Professor
Mary Roberts, PhD, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC-ACS is the Program Director and Associate Professor of the Graduate Art Therapy and Counseling Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Roberts has over 22 years of experience as an art therapist and art therapy educator.
Arts for Optimal Health is a program that facilitates partnerships between art therapy practices and community arts centers to provide access to mental health support for veterans and transitioning active duty service members. Engaging in media exploration within the therapeutic relationship, veterans cultivate creative practice to promote quality of life.