12
The Coastal Buzz
wellness
MAY 2022
The Art of Healing By Jan Morgan-Swegle
F
never truly heal. But others have found a first step in the healing process through the Art for Healing program.
Some people see a therapist, some take medication and some
The Art & Creativity for Healing program was developed by Laurie Zagon, an artist working in New York (now California). She expanded her skills and qualifications by becoming a
or all of the happiness we experience in life, we also have sadness. Be it from pain, stress, grief, abuse, depression, or fear, there is sometimes a place in our hearts that is empty and sad—a place that needs to be healed so that we can move forward.
university professor facilitating expressive art workshops for overworked Wall Street executives. Watching these executives lose themselves in the process and lose some of their stress by creating, Laurie knew that others could benefit from this process. The program does not provide art therapy, but facilitates the creative process; leaders do not interpret or diagnose participants or their issues.
Brunswick County Healing In Leland, Marybeth Livers, as Executive Director of the Brunswick Arts Council, sponsors the Art for Healing program. “Art isn’t exclusive,” Livers says. “Everybody has some type of creative expression. This is a good program for so many people. People open up.
Brunswick Arts Council sponsors Art for Healing classes, such as this pain ng class at Leland Cultural Arts Center. Other Art for Healing classes include crea ve wri ng, journaling, poetry, storytelling, and yoga.
“We all have losses and trauma in our lives to varying degrees. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, this type of program—movement, literary, music and visual arts—was often used in therapy settings. Our society is now shifting after several years of dealing with the ramifications of pandemic isolation…. The arts are
