After delivering remarks, I traveled to Fort Hood where I met with people trained in art and music therapy. Peter Buotte is an art therapist. He shared an example of a memory box a service member made near the end of his art therapy treatment. This infantry soldier had served for 14 years, and the outside of the box reflected his work and experience in the military. The inside of the box contained nine dog tags-one to represent each of the nine friends he lost. A flashlight illuminates the tags to help shine a spotlight on the lives of the soldier's friends. Today, this soldier has made a lot of progress and currently is training military dogs. (Photo: Whitehouse.gov)

Peter also showed me a mask created by a service member who said the following:

"While creating the mask, I learned that showing something complicated is not necessary. This is a way to show how I put on a mask every day. On one side, the flag shows a sense of freedom; on the other, the uniform shows sense of duty. Stress and pressure caused my mask of strength to break and show my weakness. Art therapy is one of, if not the most important, therapy for me." (Photo: Whitehouse.gov)

I also had a chance to talk with music therapist, Hannah Bronson. It was so interesting to listen to Hannah as she shared stories of the power of music therapy. I learned a lot! She explained that music therapy offers a contained and supportive environment for the processing of trauma. She also told me that music is a vehicle for expression and/or release of emotions, promotes self-reflection, insight, and awareness, and helps to develop multiple perspectives. In addition, music is non-invasive, safe and motivating.

Hannah shared an incredible story of a service member who suffered from PTSD and chronic pain. He felt very uncomfortable in groups and around large numbers of people so he asked to have individual music therapy sessions. During individual sessions, he shared that he had a lifelong dream of learning to play the drums, and he soon began working with the therapist to learn how to play the drums. One day, he asked about group therapy sessions and then began attending group sessions. He eventually performed on stage for 100 people. Amazing! I learned this action shows us one of the ways music therapy helped him to begin to reintegrate and work through his concerns about spending time with large groups of people.

This was an amazing visit, filled with powerful stories of ways art and music therapies can help to heal our service members. While meeting with the therapists, a few military spouses participated in our discussion. They are our nation's silent heroes who do so much and ask for so little. Spouses and other military family members can also benefit from creative arts therapy.

I am honored to have this national and international platform to shine the light on art therapy. I hope you continue to follow along, as I will share stories about my visits across the United States and around the world to elevate art therapy.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Leftists Try to Shut Down Pro-Charlie Kirk Coffee Shop: 'But God is Good'

Dr. Jordan Peterson Was 'Near Death' Over the Summer

'Playing God': Shocking Research Turns Skin Cells into Human Eggs [Video]

'Unacceptable': Despite Promising a Safety Review, FDA Approves Another Generic Abortion Pill

Mainstream Media Goes All in on Woke Pronouns over Chief Justice Kavanaugh's Would-Be Assassin

Rank-And-File DC Officers Accuse Superiors of Downgrading Crimes to Mask Real Levels: Report

Trump's Deployment of National Guard Troops to Handle Antifa in Portland Halted by Federal Judge

Israeli Delegation Heads to Egypt for Hostage Talks with Hamas

Good News: TPUSA High School Clubs More Than Double, Hit 2,700 Nationwide

Atheist Bill Maher Condemns Media Silence on Christian Genocide in Nigeria: 'Systematic Killing'

'We Found Him': The Alleged Smoke Bomber Who Disrupted a Sean Feucht Worship Event; His Shocking Links to Antifa Inside Canada's Military

As Deadly Violence against Houses of Worship Rises, So Do Law Enforcement, Security Measures

Portland Police Arrest Conservative Journalist Nick Sortor Outside ICE Facility, 'But None of the Domestic Terrorists'

Apple Takes Down ICE Tracking Apps After Pressure from Bondi DOJ

Kash Patel's FBI Cuts All Ties to Southern Poverty Law Center

The President Is Already Using the Shutdown to Slash Federal Spending, Plans to Make Job Cuts

Israeli Leaders React to Terror Attack on UK Synagogue as Navy Intercepts Pro-Hamas Flotilla

President Trump Sets Sunday Deadline for Hamas to Accept Deal or Face 'ALL HELL'

Hamas Says It Will Release All Remaining Hostages, But...

'Blown Away': Hundreds Saved and Baptized as 8,000 Students Seek Jesus at University of Tennessee