AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST, JOAN DAVIS, HAS BEEN IN THE HEALING THROUGH ART CIRCLE SINCE HER COMPANIES INCEPTION IN 1993. “I BELIEVE THAT NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE VISUAL ARTS CAN HELP ANY CHILD OR ADULT COMMUNICATE AN IDEA, AN EMOTION OR AN EXPERIENCE  THAT VERBAL LANGUAGE SIMPLY CANNOT. THE CREATIVE RELEASE OF EMOTION AND PAIN IS THE KEY TO HEALING.”

JOAN DAVIS TEACHES EXPRESSIVE GENTLE AND RESULT PROVOKING ART SESSIONS WITH CHILDREN. JOAN’S WORK INCLUDES A DIVERSE SET OF WORK SHOPS AND ONE ON ONE PRIVATE SESSIONS WITH CHILDREN AND CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, PROJECTS WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN HAVE LEAD TO COMMUNICATION BREAK THROUGHS WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY CREATE ART, COMMUNICATE THE STORIES TO THEIR FAMILIES OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME ALLOWING A GREATER LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING.

OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE LEADING IN-STUDIO, HANDS ON WORK SHOPS WITH FOSTER CHILDREN, HELPING TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, EXPERIENCE JOY AND ALLOWING THESE OFTEN BEWILDERED YOUTH THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH EXPRESSIVE AND OPEN ENDED DIRECTED ART PROJECTS THEIR HOPES, DREAMS AND SELF IDENTITY.

JOAN HAS WORKED WITH MAJOR ORGANIZIATIONS SUCH AS AUTISTRY STUDIOS, MARIN CA, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SAN PEDRO, EDGEWOOD FOR ABUSED CHILDREN OF SAN FRANCISCO, RENO NEVADA FOSTER CARE ORGANIZATIONS, SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION THROUGH THE HEROES AND HEARTS PROJECTS, MAJOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS SUCH AS STUART HALL, SAN FRANCISCO, BRANDEIS HILELL DAY SCHOOL, SAN FRANCISCO AND MANY MORE.

EVEN WITHIN GROUP WORKSHOPS EXERCISES AND DIRECTION IS GEARED TO SPECIFIC ISSUES FACING EACH CHILD WHILE INDIVIDUAL WORK CAN UNCOVER DEEP EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, ALLOWING THE STUDENT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PAIN AND FACE IT BRAVELY THROUGH DIFFERENT VISUAL ART MEDIUMS IN A SAFE AND CARING SPACE.

STUDENTS NOT USED TO WORKING WITH ART MEDIUMS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND SHOWN THEY CANNOT MAKE “MISTAKES” WITH FORGIVING MEDIUMS AND ONE ON ONE ENCOURAGEMENT AND DIRECTION.

IN ADDITION, JOAN DAVIS IS CONSIDERED AN EXPERT IN THE ANALYSIS PORTION OF ART THERAPY THUS CREATING CONCRETE SOLUTIONS FOR THE ARTIST AND THE FAMILY. THESE ISSUES ARE  CONCRETELY ADDRESSED IN A KIND, GENTLE AND RESULT ORIENTED MANNER LEADING TO SHORT AND LONG TERM IMPROVEMENT IN CONFIDENCE AND OVERALL OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN NOT JUST A POSITIVE WAY BUT AN EFFECTIVE WAY THAT WORKS SPECIFICALLY FOR EACH CHILD.

OVERALL, JOAN DAVIS ART THERAPY EMPOWERS CHILDREN TO BE STRONG, SEE THEIR SITUATION THROUGH NEW EYES AND HELPS THEM, EACH IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL WAY TO RELEASE AND MOVE ON.