Mental Health Advocacy at Healing Arts Center
At Healing Arts Center, we believe being a mental health advocate means showing up for people, reducing stigma, and reminding our community that mental health is worth protecting. It also means encouraging therapy and offering additional support. We do not take its place.
Therapy Matters
Therapy is an essential part of mental health care. What we offer — art, sound therapy, movement, writing, and mindfulness — is not therapy. These practices give people extra tools and outlets, but we always encourage clients to seek professional counseling and to stay with it. Therapy provides the clinical care people need. Our work adds another layer of support along the way.
Supporting Veterans and Families
Supporting veterans and their families is a core part of what we do. Military service can leave deep, invisible wounds: PTSD, stress, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. The shift from military to civilian life can bring isolation and pressure to “keep it all in,” especially for men who may feel they always need to appear strong.
Mark, with more than twenty years of military leadership, has seen these struggles firsthand. He encourages service members to reach out, lean on every available resource, and understand that seeking therapy is a sign of courage. His message is simple: you do not have to go through this alone.
Why Creativity Helps
Sometimes words are not enough. Veterans and family members may carry feelings they can’t easily put into language. Creativity gives another way through. Sound, art, movement, and writing open safe outlets for expression. These practices can help release what feels too heavy to carry, build connection, and remind people that their lives hold meaning. They do not replace therapy, but they can walk alongside it.
Our Role as Advocates
Advocacy is more than raising awareness. It is about breaking down stigma, encouraging therapy, and creating pathways to hope. At Healing Arts Center, we are proud to stand as advocates — reminding people that they are not alone and that help is worth seeking. We offer space for creative practices that support well-being, while always emphasizing the importance of therapy as a cornerstone of care.
Moving Forward Together
Mental health advocacy is not about having all the answers. It is about being present, honest, and willing to stand with people in hard times. At Healing Arts Center, we are honored to walk beside veterans, their families, and anyone who needs compassionate support. Together, we can break down stigma, strengthen community, and keep hope alive.
