Bill Clinton: “since the terrible tragedies of September 11, many Americans, both adults and children, have been forced to deal with a…”

“since the terrible tragedies of September 11, many Americans, both adults and children, have been forced to deal with a level of pain and anxiety that most people have never had to endure before. Art therapy--the process of using art therapeutically to treat victims of trauma, illness, physical disability or other personal challenges--has historically been under recognized as a treatment. However, since September 11, many of us have witnessed its enormous benefits in helping both children and adults alike express their emotions in a very personal, touching way. While nearly every person in our country has been irrevocably changed by that day's events, we know that children are particularly vulnerable to the long-term emotional consequences that often accompany exposure to trauma. One of the ways in which children have coped with the aftermath of September 11 is by reaching for their crayons, pencils, and paintbrushes to express some of what they are feeling. Children all over the country have created images of World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon decorated with hearts, tears, rainbows, and angels. These simple, yet heartfelt, drawings, which do such a wonderful job of expressing the complex emotional terrain that these children are navigating, have moved us all. Adults, too, have used creativity to help cope with the difficult emotions that so many are experiencing.…”