By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, November 12, 2015 — Service members who take
part in art therapy to soothe the symptoms of war’s invisible wounds display acts
of courage and resilience to put them in control of their lives, the assistant
secretary of defense for health affairs said today.
Speaking at the 2015 Wounded Warrior Healing Arts
Recognition “Show of Strength” event at the Pentagon, Dr. Jonathan Woodson said
service members, professionals, families and other caregivers have critical
roles by supporting art therapy and ensuring its success.
Woodson said a wide variety of wounded service members’
“museum quality” art on display at the event caught his eye.
“I was reminded of the infinite potential of art to assess
the human emotion, access the human emotion, and exploring … to understand
emotions are complex issues,” the assistant secretary said.
“Today is a celebration of recovery and rehabilitation,” he
said, noting that the celebration includes the expanding partnership of the
Military Healing Arts partnership between the Defense Department and the
National Endowment for the Arts as part of the Warrior Care Month observance.
NEA Supports DoD to Heal the Wounded
The NEA supports music, writing and visual art therapy at
military care facilities for those who might not benefit from traditional
therapy, Woodson said, adding that the partnership represents some of the
“finest institutions in America coming together to aid in the healing of
wounded warriors.”
Nine service members whose artwork was displayed received
certificates of recognition for artistic achievement. Healing-arts therapy was
a key part of their recovery and rehabilitation, explained James Rodriguez,
deputy assistant secretary of defense for warrior care and policy.
Acknowledging that healing arts might not benefit every
service member, because each case is individual, Woodson said the option to
enter the program should be included for all as an option to expand their
therapy plan.
“The progress of creating can lead them places they
otherwise [might not] access,” he said. “It is safe to say we are all just
beginning to understand how engagement in the arts can change lives of military
members affected by traumatic brain injury to post-traumatic stress syndrome
and other conditions. We know [the arts] can be an extremely powerful tool in
assisting with recovery.”
And there are many reasons why the DoD-NEW partnership is
important, he noted.
Art Therapy Has Calming Effects
Studies show creating art can produce calming effects on
invisible wounds, because art therapy can decrease stress hormones, which can
relax and lessen anxiety – especially for those used to staying hypervigilant
in high-stress environments, Woodson said. Creating art to express feelings and
help them externalize what they might have repressed for a long time can help
return service members to a normal existence, he added.
Because of what they’ve experienced, service members often
deal with a complex set of feelings and emotions that make it difficult to
relate to people, Woodson said. The invisible wounds can lead to feelings of
shame, guilt and identity crises that might cause them to retreat and engage in
isolating behaviors,” he added.
“Art therapy is a lifeline out of that isolation,” the
assistant secretary said.
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