Psychiatry Creative Art Workshop Psychiatry Creative Art Workshop Textured and transformed by over three decades of paint and glue, three tables in Scott and White's creative therapy workshop represent layers upon layers of creative energy. Collages of pain and renewal, they symbolize the healing art of psychiatry and represent Scott and White's commitment to treating the whole person. In the beginning, patients received traditional occupational therapy. With the conviction that a truly creative process would help patients express their inner feelings, Dr. Rynearson asked artist Forrest Gist, who then had a studio in Belton, if he would be willing to have psychiatric patients come into his studio and paint once a day. Creative art therapy moved into its current location in 1975, when the Lucy King Brown Special Treatment Center was completed and in-patient psychiatric services moved to the first floor of the new facility.
Patients participate in creative therapy seven days a week.
The program, which at times included pottery and sculpting is still conducted by Mr. Gist, who says patients' art inspires ideas for his own work. One of the most amazing things about the people I have worked with is their ability to express themselves beautifully through abstract expressionistic painting. Mr. Gist tells patients about the evolution of art and painting and how symbols have been used by man to express himself. At the doctor's suggestion, he also asks patients to paint a family portrait, their dreams, people important to them, memories, their pain or events they believe led to their hospitalization. He does not critique, evaluate or attempt to interpret patients' work.