Interview with Kathleen Waterman

Art Therapy in Recreation Therapy with Kathleen Waterman

Kathleen Waterman, a Recreation Therapist with over 30 years of experience, discusses how art is an integral part of her work with veterans. She emphasizes that art provides a unique and powerful way for individuals to express themselves and find healing.

Summary

In this video, Kathleen Waterman, a veteran recreation therapist, explains the transformative role of art in her practice. She highlights how art allows veterans to express emotions and thoughts that words often cannot capture. Waterman emphasizes the importance of the creative process over the final product, fostering an environment free from rules or expectations. This approach proves effective for both emotional healing and physical rehabilitation, even for those with neurological challenges. Whether working individually to build confidence or in groups to foster community and shared experience, Waterman demonstrates that art therapy provides a vital outlet for veterans to reconnect with themselves and others.

Transcript

Interviewer: How do you use art in your sessions with veterans?

Kathleen Waterman: So I've been doing recreation therapy for more than 30 years. I've been in and out of the veteran community for the last 20 years. I see veterans in all walks of life, from all times and periods of service. And so the common theme among anyone with art is an ability to express themselves in ways they couldn't otherwise. Words are written and that's a beautiful form of creative expression, but creating something that's visually appealing has a whole other level of adventure. How will you express that today? It doesn't have to be a flower, a tree, a building, a person. Is it just a color? Is it movement? All of those things give voice to what's inside you that you couldn't otherwise find a different way to express. And maybe tap into something you didn't even know was there. If that takes a step further and you provide something that you want to hang on your wall, that's bonus. And that's what we teach all the time. The artwork is bonus. The expressive journey is what we're looking for.

Interviewer: How effective is art in recreation therapy?

Kathleen Waterman: Extremely. I have an absolute zero tolerance policy. There are no expectations when you walk in the door. I want no one who has experience—if you have experience, it doesn't matter. If you're absolutely inexperienced, you're on the same level playing field. And that's what's so beautiful about art. There's no rules, there's no expectations, there's no outcome-based. We're not trying to produce a product, we're just trying to experience the moment. Let's touch the brushes. Let's create using both sides of our brains. Let's stick a brush in your non-dominant hand and see what happens. It really can reach so many levels of healing, both emotionally as well as physically. I've used art for folks who were neurologically damaged. Someone who's had a stroke. They can't write their name anymore. The frustration is deep within, they're aphasic. Art gives them an outlet. You can use your finger, you can use a sponge, you can use a piece of fruit. You can use whatever they have and you can develop physical skills as well as healing their soul, all with the simple act of color and a tool of some sort.

Interviewer: Do you work with individuals and groups?

Kathleen Waterman: Individually, it's really wonderful for someone who's feeling very apprehensive. If someone doesn't feel confident, I can sit with them and build their confidence one step at a time, show them that the process is that—it's a process. It's not an outcome. Again, I take that—you're not allowed to use that word. We're just going to experience this process, let's see where it goes. So there's a lot of stigmas attached to "I'm not an artist, I don't do art, I can't even color in the lines." Perfect. Let's color outside of all of them. Because I am not an "in the lines" kind of approach. Everything should be within your own way, your own spirit, your own tool. When you get into group dynamics, that's also a beautiful thing. They start sharing stories and they start sharing experiences. "Hey, I was just like that when I started, come see what I'm doing now. I had never picked up a pencil or a paper and look what I'm doing now. I'm not going to hang on the wall of the Louvre, but you know what? I'm having an amazing time and I'm sharing this part of me with like-minded people who also keep returning." And that camaraderie is so valuable. It's that sense of connectedness and community that we all need.