NAPLESILLUSTRATED.COM | SEPTEMBER 2019 115
BALANCE
By Kat SmithMINDFULNESS
Art therapy is much more than arts and crafts. It’s a
mental health practice that marries art making and crea-
tive processes with applied psychological therapy. In
addition to supporting personal and treatment goals,
art therapy can bring deeper insight into people with
dementia and other mental health issues.
“There are certain things in the art that I’m looking at,”
says Angel Duncan, a clinician and director of education
at Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest
Florida. “As a trained art therapist, I’m able to identify sui-
cide and depression indicators, anxiety, and even stroke.”
Duncan works with dementia patients to improve
their quality of life and often focuses on the meaning
behind their creations. “I am able to get stories from
them,” she says, adding that the practice allows them touse expressive arts to engage again. While medication
is often necessary, complementary therapies—such as
music and art—can be vital in improving cognitive func-
tion, insight, social skills, and numerous other measures
of a life well led.
Beyond her work with seniors, Duncan also uses
art therapy with teens experiencing anxiety, depres-
sion, and other issues at David Lawrence Center and has
teamed up with Reina Lombardi of Florida Art Therapy
Services to create a program with Artis—Naples. “The
Baker Museum opens its doors to us,” says Duncan.
“The kids come in, we look at artwork, then we use the
studio and create art to talk about thoughts, feelings,
and how it helps them better deal with the inner con-
flicts they are going through.” (nprc-swfl.com)BIG PICTURE