Introduction

There is a great need for healing today. All of us struggle with a mental health disorder of
some kind at some point in our lives. The premise for this book is that healing is possible,
in fact inevitable, with the right attention and care. Creativity is a healing process. I aim
to show group facilitators, teachers, and therapeutic leaders a path to use creative art to
bring about wellness and promote recovery in their students.

Each exercise fosters a deeper appreciation of one of the eight wellness dimensions as
outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The exercises encourage the student to have a sensation of the dimension, not just read, or
talk about it. My desire is to use art to create an experience of wellness that is meaningful
and memorable and can translate to life outside the classroom.

There are twenty-two exercises designed to be used as an artistic exploration. This is not
art therapy, but a way to process and experience recovery. The wellness dimensions are
different from the twelve steps used in Alcoholics Anonymous and similar programs. In
recovery, our goal is to reclaim authority and empower ourselves to make our desired
life changes. In the twelve steps, we turn ourselves over to our higher power and our
admission of powerlessness is the accepted prerequisite for healing. Recovery, however,
focuses on our will and achieving goals through self-determination and the cultivation of
hope through action.

We already know what we need to do to improve our lives. We work to develop the tools
to make change happen. The wellness art exercises are meant to stimulate proactive
living and provide creative means for growth, healing, and change.