Joey Haderer is a force behind art in healing at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey.

She said there’s a difference between art therapy and art in healing. With art therapy, art is used to diagnose and then treat. Interpretation of created works also plays a role.

Art in healing is complementary to medical treatment.

“It’s more a creative intervention. It allows for diversion from the illness,” Haderer said. “It can be meditative, it promotes their sense of well-being. It could open up a part of themselves they didn’t realize, an opportunity to get in touch with their creative side.”

Art in healing in her life
Haderer’s recognition of art’s role in well-being started before long before she began working professionally with art in healing.

From the time she was in school, Haderer said she was always a creative person. When she began working as a nurse 25 years ago, art remained on the side through teaching classes, attending art shows and practicing painting on silk.

“I knew for myself how it keeps me balance,” she noted.

When she was working on her bachelor’s in nursing in 2004, she had to come up with an innovative idea for the degree. It was here she merged her passion for art with her chosen profession.

Haderer ran a pilot program at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in 2004, where chosen patients practiced art in healing through the infusion center, oncology unit and acute rehabilitation unit.

When she began working on her doctor of nursing practice in 2009 and was looking for a project to expand upon, she was approached by Northern Michigan Regional Hospital mental health unit nursing manager Tina Aown. Aown had heard of the pilot program’s success and wanted to introduce it to the unit.

Since then, Haderer’s been volunteering there, leading an art in healing group for an hour and a half once a week.

Who can benefit, and how
Art in healing provides a sense of well-being, as well as diversion from illness.

It can be helpful for any chronic illness, such as coronary artery disease, arthritis, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, mental illness, addiction, stroke or multiple sclerosis.
Haderer noted that she works with patients through five creative modes — oil pastels, watercolor, watercolor pencils, drawing and modeling clay. These five have been found to be the most successful and least frustrating of artistic mediums.

She recalled that while working with the pilot program, one patient experienced severe pain during hour-long chemotherapy infusions. After starting the art program, the patient was so excited about and focused on creating paintings that the pain was drastically decreased during the infusions.

Other observations include better health by replacing bad habits with creating art.
She’s also noticed that when working with the group in the mental health unit, “the diversion and promoting of well-being can change their mood collectively.”

Getting started
Anyone can begin an art in healing regime at any point in life.

As a guide, Haderer recommended “The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity,” a book by Julia Cameron that discusses releasing your creativity and living the artist’s life.

She also suggested creating a studio space in the home.

“It is kind of important because then you’re claiming it. You are introducing it into yourself. There’s a certain creative spot in everyone’s being,” she noted.

For those who don’t want to pick up a paintbrush or start molding clay without some instruction, taking an art class is another mode to begin art in healing. Even though the class may not be for that express purpose, there are still advantages.

At Northern Michigan Regional Hospital, group members are offered kits to help get them started.
While these also come with instructions on basic technique, the supplies included would be good starting points.
Oil pastels
— Box of oil pastels with 24 colors
— Pastel paper
— Facial tissue for blending
Watercolor
— Watercolor paint palette
— Paintbrush
— Paper to make six gift cards or two large pieces
Watercolor pencils
— Watercolor pencils
— Paintbrush
— Paper to make six gift cards or two large pieces
Drawing
— Sketchbook
— Graphite or charcoal pencils
Modeling clay
— Fimo clay