Healing Through
Expressive Arts
Why We Do Expressive Arts
We believe that expressive arts work as a supplement to traditional psychotherapy because of its potential to impact our veteran families in more memorable ways than traditional interventions. We choose to use expressive arts interventions with veteran families to provide opportunities to become active participants in their own treatment and empower them to use imagination in productive and corrective ways. Whether through art, play, music, movement, enactment, or creative writing, expressive arts stimulate the senses and facilitate self-discovery, as well as increased self-esteem and confidence.
About Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts research shows it to be effective at augmenting traditional trauma interventions because it provides creative outlets that enhance attention and awareness abilities in productive, corrective ways to promote healing, thus mitigating trauma potentials during reintegration into civilian life.
The CDS Expressive Arts Instruction and Outreach (EAIO) Programs not only promote healing and teach self-advocacy but also translate into positive economic changes for our Members. when learning Expressive Arts skills that lead to enjoyable employment and increase their capacities for career success within the Arts Fields.
Arts help Veterans heal”: The arts can address one of the reasons a service member or veteran might avoid seeking treatment, since when using the arts, individuals can experience or express their thoughts and feelings without necessarily having to talk about or directly confront the trauma, if they are not ready. One of the most difficult experiences is the transition from military to civilian life. Approximately 14 percent of service members returning from Iraq or Afghanistan meet criteria for depression. Left untreated, depression can increase the chance of risky behaviors, damage relationships, create problems on the job, make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses or even lead to suicide (http://www.naco.org/articles/guest–column–arts–helpVeterans–heal)
“The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest combat operations since Vietnam. The length and nature of these conflicts create many stressors that face Veterans who have served, increasing the chances of having PTSD or other mental health problems. Initial research on OEF/OIF Veterans suggests that between 10% and 18% of OEF/OIF troops are likely to have PTSD (in varying severity) after they return. Though the recent overall Veteran unemployment rate is considered to be low, the unemployment rate for OIF/OEF Veterans with PTSD is believed to be considerably higher. Among 18–24 year olds, the unemployment rate is nearly four points higher among those who have served (16.2%) than those who have not (12.5%). Our most recent generation of Veterans — some as young as 21- and 22-years old — who grapple with severe PTSD are most likely to be unemployed, and their employment status can adversely affect their PTSD."
Source: Click Here
CDS Programs serve our Veteran Families First
but are open to active duty, reserve, and their families)
as well as the general public
We believe the Expressive Arts can mitigate trauma potentials that may occur during reintegration into civilian life without healthy, creative and expressive outlets to cope.
What We Do
We provide Economic Stability by teaching Expressive Arts Vocational Skills
We facilitate interactions with other CDS members, instructors and staff in healthy team settings designed around real-world, on-the-job training.
We offer mentoring from Instructors and staff for employment and life skills
We educate about naturopathic philosophies and alternative healing methods
We are trained in Trauma Informed Care Practices to assist our members suffering from Trauma and/or Reintegration Issues
We encouraging healing as cohesive family units by employing visual art, play, music, movement, enactment, creative writing and more as coping skills
We educate about Self-Advocacy Skills and Available Additional Resources for Help!
We provide Valuable Industry Knowledge from Mentors to Build Networks, Start a New Career, Gain Practical Work Experience and Earn Extra Income.
We offer employment through Our Mission Support Program (MSP) Operation Enjoyable Employment after internships.
We increase capacities for career success within the Arts Fields such as: Graphic Design, Videography, Media, Music and Sound Production, Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Literary Arts and more
How We Make An
By educating about engaging effective Expressive Arts Coping Skills for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Military Sexual Trauma (MST) and other mental and physical Issues
By providing Expressive Arts Instruction for Emotional Validation, Enhancing Imagination and Creativity, Improving Mind–Body Connections and Employable Skills
By providing creative outlets that enhance attention and awareness abilities in productive, corrective ways to promote healing.
Expressive Arts Instruction, employment skills, life skills, Naturopathic philosophies and Trauma-Informed Care assist CDS and our EAU Instructors to support our members suffering from trauma and reintegration issues by eliminating barriers — such as stigmas associated with mental health issues and disabilities – through creative expression to achieve post-service successExpressive Arts research shows it to be effective at augmenting traditional trauma interventions because it provides creative outlets that enhance attention and awareness abilities in productive, corrective ways to promote healing, thus mitigating trauma potentials during reintegration into civilian life. CDS Expressive Arts Unit (EAU) Members learn Expressive Arts vocational skills that lead to enjoyable employment and increase their capacities for career success within the Media and Performing Arts Fields. Our members learn valuable industry knowledge from our mentors to build networks, start new careers, gain practical work experience and earn extra income by participating in our Mission Support Program (MSP) Operation Enjoyable Employment Project.
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