[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23528]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                              ART THERAPY

  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, since the terrible tragedies of 
September 11, many Americans, both adults and children, have been 
forced to deal with a level of pain and anxiety that most people have 
never had to endure before. Art therapy--the process of using art 
therapeutically to treat victims of trauma, illness, physical 
disability or other personal challenges--has historically been under 
recognized as a treatment. However, since September 11, many of us have 
witnessed its enormous benefits in helping both children and adults 
alike express their emotions in a very personal, touching way.
  While nearly every person in our country has been irrevocably changed 
by that day's events, we know that children are particularly vulnerable 
to the long-term emotional consequences that often accompany exposure 
to trauma. One of the ways in which children have coped with the 
aftermath of September 11 is by reaching for their crayons, pencils, 
and paintbrushes to express some of what they are feeling. Children all 
over the country have created images of World Trade Center towers and 
the Pentagon decorated with hearts, tears, rainbows, and angels. These 
simple, yet heartfelt, drawings, which do such a wonderful job of 
expressing the complex emotional terrain that these children are 
navigating, have moved us all.
  Adults, too, have used creativity to help cope with the difficult 
emotions that so many are experiencing. I heard the story of a woman 
who was one of the last people to be rescued from the World Trade 
Center rubble after being trapped for more than a day. She drew a 
picture while in intensive care of herself under the rubble with angels 
and God hovering above her. Another victim of the disaster drew 
pictures of flowers and spoke about how grateful she was to be alive.
  Last June, I had the pleasure of viewing an art exhibit here on 
Capitol Hill in which all of the art was created by patients who were 
being treated by art therapists. It was a remarkable feat for people 
coping with such immense personal pain to be able to produce such works 
of passion and beauty. Although sometimes the healing qualities of art 
may be less tangible or obvious than its aesthetic qualities, they may 
be even more important.
  I want to thank art therapists, in New York and every community in 
America, who are assisting survivors, rescuers, and the bereaved. 
Throughout the country, there are almost 5,000 trained and credentialed 
art therapists working in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and 
shelters. They are among the army of mental health professionals who 
support those suffering from psychological trauma from the attacks, and 
undoubtedly will continue to serve the needs of individuals coping with 
subsequent stress disorders.
  And that is why I rise today to encourage my colleagues in Congress 
to support the field of art therapy and expand awareness about this 
creative form of treatment. At this time of heightened awareness about 
the importance of maintaining mental health, we should recognize art 
therapy as a way to treat those among us who have experienced trauma.

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