Veterans and Art Therapy

I listened to the “Glass Half Full” podcast titled “Warpaints.” In this episode, two OTs talk to a Navy Seal veteran named Rusty Noesner. Rusty was deployed to Afghanistan and sustained two head injuries while he was there – one caused by an explosion and another caused by hitting his head on a rock after free-falling out of a helicopter. Following his return to the U.S., Rusty was treated at Walter Reed. There, he was introduced to art therapy and found that creative expression through art was a very effective form of therapy for him. Rusty explains that during military training, soldier’s brains are re-wired to think/function as a group. Soldier’s are taught to think in black and white. By introducing a creative outlet after returning home, soldiers are then able to introduce “color” back into their brain. Rusty said that making art is a tangible outcome to what has been happening internally. By focusing on the art, the veteran’s brain is able to filter out the noise constantly buzzing through it.

            Rusty has started a nonprofit organization called Warpaints in which art created by veterans is sold online. The profits go directly to the artist. The goal of Warpaints is to encourage veterans to explore and learn ore mediums for art expression. This organization is geared towards “flipping the creative switch” within the veteran’s brain that has been deactivated through military training.

            It is a goal of mine to work with war veterans as well as first responders during my OT career. I find the psychological aspect of combat/trauma to be fascinating and I am eager to do my part to help. Rusty touched on the difficulty many health providers have when suggesting art therapy as a type of therapy. While the term “art therapy” may bring to mind painting and drawing, it is important to mention other aspects of art such as woodworking or metalworking. Many male veterans may view these activities as more “masculine,” and therefore may be more willing to attempt art therapy. According to Rusty, the most important thing to remember when speaking to and working with veterans is that they do not want to feel pitied or placated.