Art Therapy at the Nasher

Art Therapy at the Nasher is designed as a group therapy experience that allows participants to explore, through the language of art-making, their feelings about cancer diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and recurrence. The group is led by a licensed art therapist, Geoffrey Vaughn, LMFT ATR, who is also a medical family therapist on Duke Cancer Institute’s Supportive Care team, and is open to both patients and caregivers,18 years and older, who are facing cancer.

No experience is needed to participate, and the sessions are not structured lessons. One only needs to have a curiosity and willingness to engage in processes like drawing, painting, collaging, and sculpting to investigate their feelings. Each monthly session lasts 90 minutes. 

Approximately one hour is spent making art and the last 30 minutes are spent sharing/discussing what has been created. Each session considers a different theme. There is no need to attend sessions in sequence, thus one can start attending in any month.

Sessions take place in one of the work studios at Duke University's Nasher Museum of Art. There is no cost for the group or to tour the museum, and all materials are supplied. Parking is $2 per hour and is payable at kiosks in the museum parking lot.