The Arts for Optimal Health Program is hosted
by Counseling & Art Therapy in the EVMS School of Health Professions. The new program’s mission is to bring art therapy and arts engagement services to the community for wellness, healing, and growth, supported through partnerships for education, research, and patient care.
First and Second-year students with Program Director, Dr. Mary Roberts, at an internship with Norfolk Street Choir Project during the fall of 2020.
Current Projects:
Arts for Optimal Health will host Visual Conversations: Community Resilience over Violence in four cities in South Hampton Roads. The Hope and Healing grant provided by UWSHR was in response to the November 22, 2022, mass shooting at a Walmart in Chesapeake. AOHP is one of 16 organizations to receive grant funding.
This project, developed by Dr. Mary Roberts in the Counseling & Art Therapy targets prevention in our community through education and expressive arts workshops. These workshops are free and open to individuals (14 and older). The workshops begin with a 30-minute presentation about topics related to Gun Violence, Trauma Informed Care, Mentoring Youth, and Fostering Resiliency. Topics will be presented by the Master of Public Health and the Counseling & Art Therapy faculty. Following each presentation, participants will reflect through art making and discussion facilitated by an art therapist.
Dinner will be provided, and workshops will take place at the following locations:
Chesapeake
Indian River Community Center
Mondays, July 17, 24, 31 and August 7, 2023
Norfolk
Slover Library
Tuesdays, August 29, September 5, 12, 26, 2023
Portsmouth
Sanctuary of Hope Church - 5-7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, January 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024
Virginia Beach
Virginia MOCA - 5:30-8 p.m.
Thursdays, February 15, 22 and March 7, 14, 2024
Registration is required and space is limited to 30 participants.
Contact artthrpy@evms.edu for more information, or register.
This project is made possible by the United Way of South Hampton Roads Hope and Healing Grant.
