Beyond
Counseling
Unique Mental Health Care in West Virginia
Written by Brooke Brown
Photo by Manuela Hoffman.
Across the U. S., mental health challenges are on the rise, and West Virginia is no exception. However, the Mountain State is home to a growing range of mental health services that go beyond traditional talk therapy. From brush strokes in an art studio to the companionship of a horse, residents of West Virginia are finding new ways to achieve mental wellness.“ Talk therapy is a powerful tool in helping people address personal, professional and life challenges, but art therapy utilizes both talk therapy and visual language,” says Dr. Susan Ridley, associate professor and chair of the Art Therapy and Counseling
Department at West Liberty University( WLU).“ When traumatic experiences occur or if the person does not have the verbal skills to talk about what has happened to them, art therapy provides a bridge for communication.”
Through painting, music, dance, journaling and other creative endeavors, art therapy taps into the unconscious mind to uncover and process complex emotions safely. Techniques such as visual journaling with reflective writing or creating paintings help individuals regulate emotions, express themselves and build self-esteem.
Throughout her career, Ridley has seen art therapy transform lives at all ages. Anything regarding creative play works well with children, but for older adults suffering from cognitive decline, sometimes activities that encourage them to reminisce on the past help them remember things more easily.
“ In my work with older adults with Alzheimer’ s disease and dementia, music is the primary tool I’ ve used since it is the last thing that is forgotten,” Ridley says.“ Respect for age and experience is paramount when working with older adults in cognitive decline as activities need to be simplified and steps to completion reduced to minimize frustrations about lost memories.”
WLU was the first university in West Virginia to create both an undergraduate Creative Arts Therapy program and a graduate Art Therapy and Counseling program. WLU supports credentialed art therapists statewide through these programs. Both are designed to meet growing mental health needs and include virtual options, professional memberships and liability coverage for students. The graduate program also has an art therapy scholarship, which includes a two-year membership in the American Art Therapy Association and two years of professional liability insurance that students are required to have for their practicum experience and internship.
“ In the next 10 years, I hope art therapy and expressive arts will be recognized as an integral part of mental health treatment and that every state in the U. S. will enact a license to practice as a final recognition of the power of arts to heal,” Ridley says.
At Horses with Hearts, the connection between humans and horses forms the foundation of therapy.
“ The bond between horses and humans is one of the most enduring and transformative relationships in human history,” says Kay Barkwill, CEO of Horses with Hearts.“ This bond is built on a partnership of trust. At its heart, the horse and human connection is about communication without words. Horses reflect our energy, emotions and intentions. They respond to who we
36