2011

In this paper I describe an example of the integration of humanitarian art therapy and mental health counseling principles in an approach that provides culturally sensitive post-disaster community support. As a licensed mental health counselor and board certified art therapist for disaster relief psychosocial support community groups, I have worked in the U.S., Canada, Turkey, Israel, Palestine, and the Philippines. I believe the “continuity principle” (Omer & Alon, 1994) should be central to any form of international crisis intervention, and that health and psychosocial well-being of affected peoples can be maximized through expression with the arts. Humanitarian art therapy and mental health counseling integration focuses on preserving and restoring continuities at the individual, family, organizational, and community levels.