Wounded Healer Experiences in Art Therapy

Abstract

Mental health professionals who both provide services and effectively make use of them to address their own emotional or psychiatric challenges are called wounded healers. Despite the potential benefits of lived experience, these professionals often must contend with institutions and systems that are discriminatory. The authors use life-writing to address challenges — stigma, disclosure, and role fluidity — faced by wounded healers within educational and work environments.

Keywords:

• Wounded healer
• art therapy
• user-provider
• stigma
• disclosure
• life-writing

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roots

Roots, MA, LPC, is an art therapist at a psychiatric hospital in the U.S.

Roses

Roses, MA, is an art therapist in children’s residential care in the U.S. They have opted to publish this article using pseudonyms.