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Naples, Fl – David Lawrence Centers, Collier County’s only comprehensive, not-for-profit mental health and addiction recovery treatment center serving children, adults and families, is pleased to announce that the Harmon-Meek Gallery Fund at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation has awarded the Center a $2,500 grant for the “Creative Expressions: Arts for Health and Wellness” art therapy program.

What originally began in 2014 as a six-month pilot program, this community-based art therapy program is now in its fourth year, thanks to the continued generosity of the Harmon-Meek Gallery Fund. To date, more than 73 children enrolled in the Center’s Children’s Community Action Team (CAT) have reaped the many therapeutic benefits of their total investment of $41,500.

Research suggests that artistic contemplation and expression can improve problem solving, increase focus, interpersonal skills and feelings of empathy while reducing stress levels.

Scott Burgess, President and CEO of David Lawrence Centers, said, “David Lawrence Centers greatly values the continued investment and partnership of the Meek Family on this highly effective, holistic opportunity to teach children who are struggling how to positively channel their emotions and communicate through art.”

This innovative art therapy program was developed and is run by licensed mental health counselors and registered art therapists. It provides participants the opportunity to visit, view, and discuss artwork created by professional artists within a gallery space—such as The Baker Museum at Artis-Naples and Harmon-Meek|modern, where children learn how artists express thoughts and emotions through the use of line, shape, color and pictorial metaphors. They then practice these learned techniques, share their artwork, and process their experiences and associated feelings in a group setting and with their treatment team.

The overall program objectives are to help children develop new coping skills, learn socially appropriate methods to express and contain thoughts and emotions, experience healthy leisure and recreational skills, gain self-reflection, and enhance communication skills.

Kristine Meek, Director /Co-owner of Harmon-Meek Gallery, stated, “The goal of our donor-advised fund is to support at-risk youth and children’s arts programs in Lee and Collier Counties. As long-time supporters of David Lawrence Centers, we’re thrilled they came to us with such a collaborative and constructive art-based program. Teaching children to express themselves through art can be an incredibly powerful coping skill and it is our honor to be part of making this healing, therapeutic technique available for children struggling with their mental health.”

Harmon-Meek Gallery Fund awards grants to local charities through funds raised at the annual Harmon-Meek Gallery Visionaries of the Visual Arts Award Dinner.

Southwest Florida nonprofit David Lawrence Centers is a national leader in providing world-class mental health and addiction recovery solutions for children, adolescents and adults. The Center’s innovative, integrated treatment includes inpatient, outpatient, residential, and community-based services – a comprehensive system of care funded by community and government support. Each year, David Lawrence Centers creates life-changing wellness for more than 9,000 people through over 220,000 treatment sessions. To learn more, please call (239) 491-7602 or visit www.DavidLawrenceCenter.org.