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For
Immediate Release:
CLINICIANS RECOMMEND NEW
AUTOBIOGRAPHY ON ART THERAPY FOR TREATING MANIC DEPRESSION
NEWARK, DELAWARE -- Journaling and drawing play an important role in patient therapy when treating mental illness, according to mental health professionals reviewing the soon-to-be-released autobiography, Anthology of A Crazy Lady: A Creative Cure through Writing and Art, by Delaware artist and author Susan L. Heisler. "Sue's drawings show her creative movement from isolation to connectedness and from psychic suffering to self understanding and acceptance", says psychologist Sarah Staneff. "[Her book is] a hallmark example of the natural human tendency to strive toward wholeness." Juliet Bruce, an Expressive Arts Therapist, highly reccomends the book for patients, clinicians and families, claiming that this book "should help to reduce the stigma that still surrounds one of our most pernicious health problems." With a multitude of treatment methods and medications available today, it would seem mental illness could be better managed. For many years Ms. Heisler battled her illness employing various combinations of psychotherapy, hospitalization, and medications but to no avail. When Ms Heisler began to express her manic and depressive experiences and emotions through creative writing, journaling, and drawing, she was better able to manage her behavior and control her racing thoughts. Eventually, this excercise was recognized by her therapists and encouraged as a valid adjunct to her treatment. Ms Heisler was so impressed by the effect this had on her own recovery, she decided to evangelize this aspect of treatment. Anthology of A Crazy Lady chronicles Ms. Heisler's struggle with manic depression and various attempts at treatment, in which art therapy and journaling eventually effected a successful outcome. Combined with this personal and detailed patient history is much poetry, prose, and artwork that presents an opportunity for further analysis and study of the emerging field of art therapy. Mental health professionals and educators will benefit from Anthology because it documents the importance of expression through the arts as an adjunct to psychotherapy. The world-famous Menninger Clinic plans to add this book to their library. And the Adler School of Professional Psychology will place this book on their recommended reading list for students. Lay readers will simply find refuge and hope within this poignant story of recovery. Ms. Heisler is 58 years of age and a retired
nurse anesthetist. She has established herself as a writer and artist in
the Mid-Atlantic and her prints have been on display numerous times at
the Center for Creative Arts in Yorklyn, Delaware. She has written several
articles for local publications. This is her first published book and is
available through Victoria Publishing in March 2000. Ms. Heisler is also
available for interview by contacting (302)239-7121.
Anthology of a Crazy Lady: A Creative Cure
Through Writing and Art
Sarah Staneff is a Psychologist and Adlerian
Therapist. She teaches several classes at St. Joseph Wellness Center
in Cleveland, OH.
Juliet Bruce is a writer, a publisher,
and an Expressive Arts Therapist in Washington DC. Currently she publishes
"The Phoenix", which covers innovative applications of the arts in health,
education, corrections, corporate and community life. Ms. Bruce's website,
"Arts For Life" focuses on creativity and support for those involved with
art therapy.
Lois Bogia is the Assistant Librarian for
the Menninger Clinic in Topeka Kansas. The Clinic offers a full range of
treatment services and programs as well as training programs for mental
health professionals. Their library is one of the best in the world.
Interview Susan / Request
a Review Galley
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Susan
L.Heisler
Book
Cover