Art Therapy Services to Support Veterans' Transition to Civilian Life: The Studio and the Gallery

Abstract

Beyond having knowledge of the treatment of combat-related trauma, art therapists need to understand veterans' experiences of transition from military to civilian life in order to offer effective interventions. This article reviews the literature on veteran transition and the challenges common to transition difficulty and describes two major components of the art therapy program at the Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, New York: a drop-in studio space and a veterans' art gallery. The clinical benefits of studio and gallery approaches in art therapy are discussed in relation to treatment needs associated with veteran transition, collective trauma, and creating spaces for remembering and retelling. Art therapy may support successful transition within the context of interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and members of the community that the veteran calls "home."