Art Therapy in Croatia

The Beginnings of a Strategic Plan

Background and History

In the Fall of 2012 Dr Lukasz Konopka and several psychiatrists and academics from Croatia visited Mount Mary to explore collaborating with our university in the hopes of bringing art therapy to the country .

Who

Lukasz Konopka- taught at The Chicago School from 1994-2012 and is currently the ChiefNeuroscientist at Yellowbrick Consultation and Treatment Center. He is an internationally knownclinical neuroscientist and a member of and mentor for the renowned Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, an organization promoting research in psychiatric disorders.

Chris Belkofer-is an Assistant Professor of Art Therapy and Chair, Art Therapy Program at Mount Mary University. His research has focused on applying neuroscience frameworks to art therapyresearch and practice..

Lovorka Brajkovic-Licensed clinical psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb; Chief, Department of Communication Skills, Center for Palliative Medicine, Medical Ethics and Communication Skills, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.

Marijana Bras- Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychological medicine, Department of Psychological Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb; Deputy Head of the Centre for Palliative medicine, medical Ethics and Communication skills, school of medicine University of Zagreb, Croatia

Veljko Dordevic-Professor of Psychiatry and Psychological medicine, Department of Psychological medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb; Head of the Centre for Palliative medicine, medical Ethics and Communication skills, school of medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia

“We would also like to offer a possibility of collaboration to both national and international partners, in order to further contribute to the development of patient-centered medicine in Croatia”-•V. Đorđević; M., Braš; V., Milunović, L., Brajković; R., Stevanović; & O., Polašek (2011). The founding of the Centre for Palliative Medicine, Medical Ethics and Communication Skills: a new step toward the development of patient-oriented medicine in Croatia. Croatian Medical Journal 52(1), 87-88.

Background Both the end of the Cold War and the Croatian

War of Independence have presented complex public health needs. Inter-generational trauma has been met by a system that has struggled to mobilize efficiently to address these challenges

Complex History Croatia has a complex history The conflicts of the Croatian War of

Independence was marked by ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and civilian casualties.

Stratum or city center of old town Dubrovnik was shelled but is now a thriving tourist attraction

Summer of 2014Dr Chris Belkofer visited Dubrovnik, Croatia as a speaker and attendee for ARS MEDICA

“What is ARS MEDICA?Is medicine a science or it is both a science and art; or is it also an art, what is artistic about medicine? ARS MEDICA is at the same time the art in medicine, and medicine of art, but also a journey from the culture of disease to the culture of health, from symptoms and diagnosis to the person as a whole. In the course ARS MEDICA-science, clinical practice and art we will discuss how to make a bridge between science, clinical practice and art in four important public healthproblems: depression, dementia, pain and palliative care. Join us and be important part of May course in beautiful Dubrovnik!”

What? Questions explored by Croatian colleagues: How can the arts be used to promote a more empathic

bedside presence in the education of medical students? How can neuroscience and art therapy interconnect to

promote healing? What techniques/theories, knowledge, etc. can be

shared between institutions and colleagues How can mental health break free of institutional silos

to treat the whole person?

These challenges provide an opportunity for collaboration. The health system in the U.S. is in a great flux. Mental health has struggled to make good on the promise of neuroscience. Despite increasing technology and research approaches to mental health and mental illness are often ineffective, splintered, and suffer from outdated models.

Goals From Conference

To develop and expand upon previous conferences. More numbers and more art therapists

To teach art therapy in Croatia To create interdisciplinary training on how to use

neuroscience in conjunction with the therapeutic arts. To establish an affiliation agreement between Mount Mary

University and the University of Zagreb To bring the PAIN BOL exhibit to Mount Mary University To invite Croatian Colleagues to speak in conjunction with the

exhibit

The University of Zagreb is the largest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe. As of 2011, University of Zagreb is ranked among the 500 Best Universities of the world by the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Pain BOL exhibit:Collaboration between artists at the University of Zagreb and the Center for Palliative Medicine, University of Zagreb

Consisted of visual responses to first person accounts of persons suffering from chronic pain

“The night is passing slowly and my shoulder has gone made after the exercises with you……..”

How? ????