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Thursday LOVELAND REPORTER-HERALD/Health Line of Northern Colorado June 18, 2009
“In a way, the materials can contain some of that grief,” Hillman said. “It is creating a dialogue between the person and their experience and it makes that grief more approachable.” Licensed professional counselor and art therapist Tanya Vallianos facilitates the Soul Play art therapy group at McKee Medical Center for cancer survivors, patients and family members. Her group of mainly women meets weekly to work through a variety of art projects. “Sometimes being able to make something and work creatively can make it easier to talk about what it is like to be a cancer patient and what is going on with their treatment, their lives and how they are feeling physically,” Vallianos said. After a check-in time, Vallianos starts the session with guided visualization to open creativity channels or the group will go straight to the project. “We just finished a project where they were given some clay and asked to create a 3D piece that portrayed their heart in the moment,” Vallianos said. “There is a lot of metaphor that comes up in the pieces — people are thinking of their life and what it means to them.” Soul Play group member Cathy Sherry appreciates the input Vallianos offers. “Sometimes Tonya’s prompting helps us really figure out what is going on,” Sherry said. “I don’t necessarily know what my picture is saying, but through talking it out it gives me some ideas about what I have been feeling. It is amazing what we discover.”
RH Photo/Rhema Muncy
All silk screen paintings were created by four women in a Pathways Hospics art therapy group. mune system. “Also we find that it taps into the alpha brain pattern, the brain wave pattern you see in meditation and prayer,” Vallianos said.
MUSIC THERAPY Music is another tool for healing. Loveland music therapist and professional counselor Ruth Noonan of Morning Song Music Therapy and Counseling uses scientifically grounded methods to help her clients process brokenness through music. According to Noonan, the tap root of music therapy is world cultures. She uses her understanding of her craft to cross cultural barriers and RH Photo/Rhema Muncy reach individuals of all races. Top, music therapist Ruth Noonan . Above left, Soul Play “Music has been in human Art Therapy group members Doris Butterfield and Cathy experience since time beSherry paint what they feel in the moment while art theragan,” Noonan said. “Everypist Tanya Vallianos watches. Above right, Soul Play membody has their own idea of bers Carolyn vonGaertner and Mindy Cooper. what music is to them. Most people have memories and Group member Mindy relaxation, calmness and connections to ethnic and reCooper appreciates a time to trust in this very safe enviligious roots, their backde-stress each week. ronment.” “You can come in feeling Vallianos uses the creative ground family and community — music is just there.” pretty stressed and after beprocess to bypasses the filThe qualities of music ing here feel much more retering system of the mind. such as rhythm and harmony laxed and feeling better,” “In many ways, maybe we create change in people. Cooper said. are not being honest about “When someone is engagSherry couldn’t agree what we are feeling,” Valing in a rhythmical activity, more. Even when she is in lianos said. “The creative they are entraining their own pain she attends the class process can break through body to the music,” Noonan and leaves with a reduced that. The part of the brain said. “It is impacting both pain level. that accesses the creative hemispheres with the brain process also accesses feel“It gives you something and they are working so they else to focus on,” Sherry said. ings.” are multitasking.” “It is not just drawing picArt therapy heals on severFor example, Noonan can tures or painting. Coming in al levels. According to Valuse the vibrations of music to to talk and vent with no lianos, art can slow heart and cut through the self-isolation judging and just listening and breathing rates, boost pleaof an autistic child on a being supportive really sure levels and decrease the deeper level than language helps. When I walk out I feel presence of cortisol, a hor� See Therapy/Page 23 much better because of the mone that inhibits the im-