WASHINGTON, DC – Second Lady Karen Pence will travel to Cartagena, Colombia; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; and Panama City, Panama August 13-18, 2017.

During her travel, Mrs. Pence will observe art therapy sessions and participate in roundtable discussions with art therapists. The visits will give the Second Lady an opportunity to listen to art therapists as they discuss their profession and how their profession helps individuals who need the treatment. In Colombia, art therapy is an established practice with an association of Colombian art therapists in the country. In Argentina and Chile, there are schools to train art therapists and well-established art therapy programs. In Panama, art therapy is an emerging profession.

“I look forward to the opportunity to highlight art therapy and bring more awareness of the profession’s existence and benefits to the countries in Central and South America,” said Karen Pence. “Each time I visit with art therapists and observe their sessions, I walk away with new information and insight into the benefits of the unique treatment. Through the stories shared, it’s evident that art therapy makes a difference.”

The Second Lady will also participate in cultural activities during the trip.

To stay updated on Mrs. Pence’s events, follow her on Twitter at, @SecondLady.

ABOUT ART THERAPY

According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. Art therapists use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore a person’s feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.