1. Healing Garden Project Chris Ann Drosdick, Art Therapy Counselor 2009

3. A former smoking area on an outdoor atrium was drab and uninviting.

5. Step one was to remove 25 years of nicotine stains from the wall.

7. The mural was to be bright and colorful.

8. The mural was to be inviting, to encourage patients to step outside in the fresh air.

9. The mural was to be wordless – to discourage graffiti.

11. The art therapist served as the guide for the overall design of the project

12. Here you see the start of the sun, flower urn and a butterfly.

14. Hibiscus symbolize love and divination.

16. With a grant from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hudson, Ohio – we were able to create The Healing Garden and purchase the paint needed.

18. Next, an affirmation was painted on each pot.

20. Delphinium (aka Larkspur) symbolizes an open heart, ardent attachment and convey a feeling of lightness and levity.

22. “No garden is without weeds” by Thomas Fuller provides food for thought.

24. Management asked I remove the profile as some patients felt it was frightening.

26. Management does not always agree.

27. Documentation of the process helps to preserve these moments.

29. Cloud with silver lining in the sky.

30. Sunflowers finished.

32. This intervention can be completed as a group or self-directed.

34. More sunflowers on the poles.

35. Walk Overview

37. The garden is used on an ongoing basis for interventions.

38. Painting with patients on a psychiatric unit has challenges, however – this project was very rewarding.

40. “I did not realize I had been sitting on the ground and painting for two hours, pain never entered my mind!”

41. Focusing on the project helped me to forget about my withdrawal symptoms for awhile.”

42. “I want to stay and see how it turns out.”

43. “This was fun!”

45. For further information about this project, contact [email_address] .

46. Chris is also the author of the book Healing Pieces, a book of thirty art therapy interventions designed to increase engagement in group therapy sessions.

47. Donations for future projects are being sought. Email for details.

49. Additionally, we would like to thank the St. Mary's Women's Guild for their generous grant to purchase the perennial flowers and the paint for the mural.

50. Lastly, we would like to thank all of the participants for their efforts to complete the project.