Brookhaven Retreat® LLC, a unique residential treatment facility exclusively for women with emotional and mental health challenges, and/or substance abuse issues hosted a therapeutic outing to the University of Tennessee Campus of McClung Museum on Saturday, July 18, 2015.
Clients had the opportunity to get out and enjoy Family Fun Day: Plants and Animals of Tennessee, where they experienced activities, crafts, and tours. Clients also had the chance to appreciate botanical photography in the museum’s new temporary exhibit, Through the Lens: Botanical Photography of Alan S. Heilman.
Exhibits at the museum showcase the geology, history, and art of Tennessee, and other cultures as well. Through their affiliation with the University of Tennessee, the McClung supports and participates in the mission to serve the state, region, and nation through scholarship, teaching, artistic creation, professional practice, and public service. The McClung is also a member of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliate Program, and is one of only 18 museums in Tennessee to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, reflecting the institution’s commitment to excellence.
As part of The Lily Program®, a 90-day voluntary residential program offered exclusively at Brookhaven Retreat, regular recreational outings help women overcome depression, trauma, anxiety, personality disorders, and substance dependence among other diagnoses.
Founder of Brookhaven Retreat, Jacqueline Dawes, says, “Outings, such as one like Family Fun Day at the McClung, are what we consider exposure therapy, which is an integral part of the comprehensive treatment plan at Brookhaven Retreat. We strongly believe the social interaction and communication skills practiced during these outings are enriching overall and promote mindfulness. They also give clients a bit of enjoyment and the experience of everyday living that help one relax during a period of intensity, introspection and ultimately, transition.”
Following the museum visit, clients ventured to A.C. Moore to purchase art supplies for upcoming projects, as art therapy is another essential part of the program at Brookhaven Retreat.
“Expressing one’s self is healing,” adds Dawes, “and the creativity exercised and exhibited during art therapy is therapeutic beyond words.”
