Social Action In Art Therapy With Veterans

Art therapy has shown the benefits it has when working with veterans transitioning back into civilian because it accounts for the complexity of trauma persons may have obtained while serving their country, as well as the effects service has had on their families. In the veteran population, there are ample amount of challenges veterans face in their day-to-day life. Specifically, with women veterans, they still have yet gained the recognition that is rightfully deserved. Despite the challenge, this project demonstrated how art therapy could activate and support frameworks of social action and social justice advocacy while working alongside women veterans. This project-enacted social action qualities such as promoting and advocacy; reflection on cultural and developmental identity; allowing participants to guide the process; using a systems lens-equality is not equity; leadership roles; and radical authenticity.