The Healing Road Podcast

In this episode, Jim and Ben discuss seeing our lives as works of art. Whether we consider our lives as an analogy to a painting, song, story, or otherwise, there is something unique we can learn that will help us better understand this amazing life that we live. Jim and Ben also share some insights from looking at the stories of the lives of Jesus and the Apostles.

This is the final episode in Season 5 on the healing power of art. Jim and Ben are taking a few weeks off to pray and reflect on where to go next.

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben share about their challenge to create a work of art as a gift for someone. They discuss what they learned while creating art to express love and connection and the importance of loving and focusing on others for our mental health.

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben share about their visualization challenge to sketch an icon of themselves as saints. They also discuss the power of creativity and visualization, especially in finding freedom from anxiety. Check out some of the studies on visualization below:

Visualizing ideal self vs. actual self through avatars: Impact on preventive health outcomes, Computers in Human Behavior

Visualization: Reducing speech anxiety and enhancing performance, Communication Reports

Testing Public Anxiety Treatments Against a Credible Placebo Control, Communication Education

A simple visualization exercise for reducing test anxiety and improving performance on difficult math tests, Journal of Worry and Affective Experience

The effect of psychological interventions on anxiety and depression in cancer patients: results of two meta-analyses, British Journal of Cancer

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben discuss some creative ways that art and music therapy are utilized. They end the episode by challenging themselves to engage in an artistic process for their own personal growth. Tune in to episode 8 to hear how it went!

Music therapy for burn and stroke victims, Huffington Post

Music therapy for adult and pediatric cancer patients, Global Advances in Health and Medicine

Art therapy for prison inmates with depression, ResearchGate

Visual journaling, Journal of Creativity in Mental Health

Telehealth music therapy, Incadence

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben share insights on the role of journaling in promoting mental health and spiritual growth. They also discuss common pitfalls that undermine the benefits of journaling, as well as how to set yourself up for success.

The Good and Bad of Journaling, Dr. Stephen Stosny (Psychology Today)

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben discuss how reading can positively impact psychological health, sleep habits, and the physical health of your brain. They also share some of their reading habits and the personal benefits they have received from reading.

The Brain Benefits of Reading and Writing, New York Times

The Complete Stories, Flannery O'Connor

Complete Short Stories, Graham Greene

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben look at the effects of receiving art, particularly the findings of Ellen Winner who has studied the psychology of art. They also discuss the unique power of films and share some of their favorite movies and cinematic tools.

The Aesthetic Attitude to Art, on Ellen Winner's work

How Long Do People Really Spend Looking at Art in Museums, Artsy.net

The Power of a Movie's Musical Score, on the Lord of the Rings

People with Depression Feel Better After Listening to Sad Music, The Verge

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In this episode, Jim and Ben discuss the different lies we believe about being artists and making art, as well as how we can begin to see ourselves as artists, as people with creativity. There is a difference between professional and amateur artists, however all of us have been made in the image of our Creator, who has made us all "craftsmen," as St. John Paul II put it in his Letter to Artists. When we start to see ourselves as craftsman, as artists, we will more readily engage in the creative work that not only can bring us healing psychologically and emotionally, but also brings us into our identity as sons and daughters of our Creator God.

Letter to Artists, St. John Paul II

Travis Bruce Black, professional artist and friend of Jim.

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

***Sorry for the audio quality, we've had a few obstacles and headsets are a hot commodity these days! The quality should be back for episode 3 :)

In this episode, Jim and Ben discuss three studies that examine the effectiveness of music therapy. Far from being pseudo-scientific, music therapy is proven to be effective in decreasing levels of depression and anxiety. They also share about active and receptive forms of music therapy, and how music has helped them in their own healing process.

Music Therapy for Depression, The Cochrane Collaboration

Individual Music Therapy for Depression, The British Journal of Psychiatry

Effects of Music Therapy on Depression Compared with Psychotherapy, The Arts in Psychotherapy

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens – Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl – Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.

In the first episode of our new season The Healing Power of Art, Jim and Ben share the personal impact that art has had throughout their lives. They also touch on power that art has to support psychological health and even healing.

The Healing Power of Art, Harvard Medical School

Co-Hosts

Jim Owens - Licensed Counselor and Professor of Counseling

Ben Pohl - Catholic High School Campus Minister

Current Season

During our season on The Healing Power of Art, we discuss the way in which various forms of art and creativity can foster interior health and healing and how it can even support physical health due to its psychological benefits.

Seasons of The Healing Road Podcast consist of ~10 episodes and cover broad topics. Mini-Series‘ consist of ~5 episodes and tackle specific and relevant issues, like anxiety, healthy habits, etc.

Connect

You can connect with Jim and Ben at facebook.com/healingroadpodcast and visit their website at healingroadpodcast.com.