Healing through Playing with Art: Art Therapist Joan Stanford (vegan), Part 2 of 3

Today, we will continue to introduce her (Joan) publication and explore other beneficial aspects of art therapy. “The book came out of wanting to let other busy people know that this is something they could do and add to any spiritual practice they have or anything really. So it’s letting people re-own that they have this creative spirit and re-own that child that desperately wants to play and enjoy life, rather than kind of see it as a drudgery.” “Because it opened up such a world for me and changed my attitude towards my own life, I wanted to invite other people, other busy people that would never consider playing with art materials, playing period, really. So that’s why I came up with the idea of offering playshops. I want to keep it light, but it’s always therapeutic when you do something and have fun.” “Imagery is evocative. So, if you ask someone to do something with imagery, it’s pulling from that inner self and to me that’s how it connects to being more aware of your own projections, prejudices, and misconceptions. It clarifies how you see the world. You get more in touch with it. Everybody that has any kind of sense of spirituality, you understand the mind, body and all of that, but it really makes it real; it really makes it real.”