Remembering this piece about using art in counseling... Healing through Art “Death is a mystery to all of us and sometimes words are not enough. Art making provides a way to symbolically express our feelings as we begin to heal,” says Joni Beckner. Art has always been an important part of Joni’s life, a hobby as a child which grew into free-lance illustration and fine art work. Now as an art therapist at Hospice, her love for art is helping grieving children and teens learn to cope with loss. Joni received her master’s degree in art therapy January 2008 and she has been a hospice grief counselor since 2000. “I always knew I wanted to pursue art therapy; what solidified that desire was my observation of just how valuable the medium is in working with children and teens. Art allows kids to work through emotions and experiences that they may not be able to access and express in traditional talk therapy,” she says. Because children and teens deal with grief and loss ve
