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The Healing Nature of Art and Healthy Relationships

By Stephen C. Schultz


The white lines zipped past at a strobe-light pace. The song "Don't Stop Believin’" by Journey played on my car stereo. Traffic was heavy but still moving fast, at a pace between 75 and 80 mph.


I was on my way to Discovery Ranch South. Discovery Ranch is a clinically sophisticated residential treatment center on a beautiful sixty-acre horse property. These teens have been making steady progress throughout their very personal therapeutic journey. They have all dealt with some pretty difficult challenges. Many of the teens are working through clinically complex family situations that include depression, anxiety, self-harm, trauma, attachment issues, substance use, or any combination of these and more. These teens have demonstrated courage, determination, sacrifice, insight, and resilience as they move through the process of growth and healing.

On this particular day, I was heading to a meeting in the conference room at Discovery Ranch. As I walked through the parking lot toward a common area, I noticed a patch of grass along with piñon pine trees and junipers lining the northern edge. A group of girls sat on the curb with a staff mentor, chatting and working on assignments. I wasn't sure if the assignments were for school or therapeutic in nature. Laughter and small talk filled the air as I approached. I moved a little closer and said,

"Hello, ladies, how are you today?"

I reached over and fist-bumped a couple of the girls.

They responded with smiles and said, "Fine!"



One young lady was shuffling some papers and organizing her notebook. She pulled out a sheet featuring a small, fantasy-style creature and handed it to the staff member. I glanced down and noticed other hand-drawn pictures—imaginative and detailed. Bending down on one knee, I pointed to the papers and asked,

"Did you draw these? These are very cool."

She responded with a shy, sheepish smile. "Yes."

I complimented her artwork again and asked if she was in the art class at Discovery Ranch. She said she wasn’t. I told her about the art teacher and the passion for creativity that comes through when working with the students.


On a whim, I asked if she would be willing to share in writing why she likes to draw—how it plays a role in who she is and how it helps her in life. She smiled, looked me in the eye, and simply said,

"Sure."

The next day, as I was walking across the grass, I saw Sophia heading toward me. I told her how much I appreciated her taking the time to share her art with me the day before. She smiled and whispered something to her staff member. Then she and the staff member turned and went back inside. A few moments later, she returned with a few more of her drawings. I took pictures of them with my phone. She also shared a handwritten paragraph about why she likes to draw.

In her note, she mentioned that she has never taken an art class—nor does she want to. She is proud of her natural ability to teach herself. She is beginning to recognize that she has a talent—a talent she wants to master. She also enjoys sharing her drawings with others. There was kindness in her eyes and a desire to use her art as a way to connect with her peers, helping them feel good through her artistic efforts.

One simple phrase in her writing stood out to me. She wrote,

"…it gives me comfort."

Enough said!

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