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Dear Friend,
This June, we’re dedicating our newsletter to celebrating the diverse communities we serve. From honoring Pride Month, Men’s Mental Health, and PTSD Awareness, to providing two virtual workshops for teams at Safe Horizon, this month is all about highlighting the strength in our community.
| | Program Update- Employee Wellness Workshops for Safe Horizon | | |
We recently hosted two virtual connection workshops for direct service staff who support victims of physical, sexual, and community violence, emotional abuse, and exploitation.
The workshops gave remote staff a meaningful opportunity to connect, create, and hold space for one another. Through a playful creative activity, the team collaborated to form a collective piece of art.
Participants Said:
“It was great to be in the moment and community with the teams. The pace was good and the exercises worked for non-artists expression.”
“... I felt relaxed, heard, and at peace. I enjoy the artwork that we completed.”
“The workshop was great. Really gave you time to slow down and sit with your thoughts in a non-judgmental way. Would look forward to more!”
Check Out Our Workshops:
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Every year, The Art Therapy Project creates a rare and validating space for clients to share artwork from their therapeutic journey.
On June 17, we hosted a special opening reception for Emerging Self exclusively for our clients, celebrating the individuals and the stories behind their work.
Thank you herb-n-peach for generously donating refreshments!
| | | Shown left to right: Board Members Sarah Staller, Benjamin Grobstein, David Willhoit, Chair, Martha Dorn, Executive Director, and Ally Lipton McArthur | | Jenny Asaro, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, Art Therapist | | Men's Mental Health Matters | |
Men’s mental health is too often shaped by stigma, leaving many without the support they need to navigate depression, anxiety, and sometimes substance use. But, having a support system in place can lead to powerful transformations. For one of our clients, the creative process became an essential coping tool, a dedicated space to reflect on beauty & hope.
Shown Right:
The Crying Electronic Recycling Tree of Beauty and Hope
Arpad W., Client, The Art Therapy Project
| | | 1 Out of Every 20 Adults in the U.S. has PTSD | | Shown Above: Fire and Ash | |
For clients living with PTSD, art therapy provides a vital space to process trauma and reconnect. In honor of PTSD Awareness Month, we're sharing a client statement that reflects their creative journey and personal growth:
"I’m a domestic violence survivor with cPTSD. The ash side of the mask represents my trauma, the feeling of being dead or broken inside. The fire side of the mask speaks to my healing journey. Somehow, a tiny ember, a spark of who I am, survived the abuse. As I work hard at learning about myself, at loving myself, that spark is spreading. Maybe someday, there will be enough fire to balance out the ashes."
- Hendy F., Client, The Art Therapy Project
| | Partnering for Student Well-Being | | |
Our partners at at Center for Supportive Schools invited The Art Therapy Project to bring an art activation to Atlas High School. Students created personal touchstones, small reminders of a strength or positive experience to carry with them.
The result? Fully engaged students, genuine curiosity about our work, and a moment to pause, get creative, and connect.
| | Celebrating Pride Month in Our Studio | | |
Pride Month celebrates identity and our whole selves. Mask-making can be a tool that allows individuals to make the internal self visible. Utilizing a wide range of mixed media materials invites a deeper layer of exploration, where the act of choosing materials helps identify personal preferences and gives form to who we are as individuals.
By making intentional decisions throughout the creative process, we practice making choices that help define and honor who we are.
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2,391
Wellness Workshop Participants
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Seeing these moments of connection unfold reminds me that our work is only possible because of the incredible community surrounding us. Every workshop we host, every partnership we build, and every milestone we celebrate is a truly collaborative effort.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our mission and for helping us create spaces where individuals can safely connect, create, and be seen.
| | Martha Dorn
Executive Director | | |
Arts and Mental Health News
| | Copyright 2026 The Art Therapy Project. All rights reserved. | | | | |
