The Art Therapy Project

03/06/2026

“We use art as an expressive process to help patients talk about issues in their lives. Arts gives them a sense of agency and a social bond with one another. It’s quite an amazing experience.”

Read more about the podcast episode that featured the healing potential of the creative arts therapies at Rikers Island:

New York, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals today released a new episode of its podcast, The Remedy, featuring leaders and health care providers from the

03/05/2026

According to one study, "art therapy intervention significantly improves both perceived social support and functional recovery in people diagnosed with schizophrenia".

Read more research behind the potential benefits of art therapy and art-based interventions here:

This week Mad in America examines three studies around art therapy and art-based interventions for mental health issues. Two studies reported on the lived Studies find art-based interventions can be helpful for recovery from mental health issues.

03/04/2026

We are thrilled to welcome Diane Duckler back to our Board of Directors! A dedicated advocate for our mission since 2015, Diane’s history with The Art Therapy Project runs deep.

With her comprehensive understanding of our organization and her long-term commitment to our growth, Diane brings invaluable insight into how we share our story. We look forward to her leadership as we work together to reach new donors and expand our impact.

Read the full Q&A with Diane at https://thearttherapyproject.org/blog/2026/2/26/continuing-the-work-diane-duckler-on-expanding-access-to-art-therapy

03/03/2026

“I think for the first time in a long time, it allowed me to, while I was making art, cry and really actively grieve in the moment and really be in touch with my emotions.”

Read more about how creative arts therapies can help young people here:

Kasha Akhtar (SESP ’23) started therapy in 2019 while she was a student at Northwestern. The following year, her therapist suggested they start incorporating art therapy in her sessions. Akhtar decided to give it a try. “I’ve always been super into art just for expressing myself. That’s alwa...

03/02/2026

For World Teen Mental Wellness Day, we’re acknowledging the constant noise teens navigate every day. Sometimes relief looks like something simple: slowing down with watercolor, letting go of perfection, and creating without the pressure to post or perform.

02/28/2026

"Often describing themselves as a 'repurposed human being,' the artist transforms what was once discarded into objects of meaning and beauty, offering a broader reflection on recovery and the resilience of the human spirit."

Read more about the veteran who formed a powerful commitment to artistic practice through art therapy:

https://princewilliamliving.com/artfactory-presents-auguster-d-williams-jr-a-solo-exhibition-of-resilience-healing-and-transformation/

02/27/2026

“I had stopped painting 22 years ago and hadn’t had an exhibit in 34 years. But I started back, and it brought me back to who I used to be.”

Read more about the important role that art played in this veteran's healing journey:

After decades of living life as a self-described loner, Robert GoVan, a Vietnam Veteran, found a renewed sense of purpose and connection through Central Virginia VA’s Whole Health program and the compassionate guidance of Health and Wellness Coach Sophie Brown.

02/26/2026

Last week, we partnered with New York Edge to offer their art specialist staff a professional development wellness workshop grounded in creative practice. Educators worked across a spectrum of materials; from pens and markers to oil pastels, chalk, watercolor, and clay, engaging in 10-minute experiential sessions with each material before moving into an open studio.

Through hands-on artmaking, participants explored reflection, stress management, and renewed energy; tools they can carry with them into their classrooms. When instructors feel grounded and supported, they’re better equipped to show up for their students and that ripple effect extends far beyond the school day.

Learn more about our Employee Wellness Workshops at https://thearttherapyproject.org/wellness-workshops

02/25/2026

“It’s just about expressing what’s inside. You don’t have to make a masterpiece. It just has to be whatever comes from your heart and mind.”

Read more about how the creative arts can promote healing across different settings here:

Arts therapy programs on Long Island help children and adults express emotions and improve mental wellness through creative workshops and exhibitions.

02/24/2026

Layering oil pastels offers a cathartic, tactile experience where participants may use a lot of pressure to create each layer, releasing energy into the art process. The layers may serve as the basis to create scratch art, using a pointed tool to scratch away at the surface to create designs. This process allows space to embrace the metaphor of layers or emerging symbols, or to simply sit with the sensations of the physical process.

02/23/2026

“In times of shared challenge, the arts remind us that connection is essential. They help us build community, process experience and support one another in ways that are fundamental to human health."

Read more about the interdisciplinary symposium that connects research in the arts, humanities, well-being, and healthcare:

Florida State University research is connecting the arts and humanities to health, healing and human connection, demonstrating how interdisciplinary