Art therapy and expressive writing have been shown to be effective in the treatment of a variety of conditions including Irritable Bowel Syndrome, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, grief and the psychological stress associated with a variety of medical conditions. Janet Scagnelli was a successful commercial illustrator who, after retiring, began to paint. Her early efforts focused on still life paintings as she acquired an entirely new skill set. Unfortunately, she experienced a profound personal loss and major life upheaval (not counting political and social unrest and the pandemic!). Her art moved in an entirely different direction and became a powerful and effective tool for her to process her grief and the impact of these events on the lives of both her and her family. Janet is here today to share her story and her powerful art with us. Art therapy (and expressive writing) is effective for anyone willing to use these tools to express what they are feeling. This isn't about being a "great artist" or "great writer." It's about expressing your feelings and concerns. And that expression has been shown to be highly therapeutic.

***If you'd like to listen to this podcast and see the art that's being discussed, click on this link for the video: https://youtu.be/RZAOsoU0qpI