Treasure Houses

In her memoir Barbara Hirth Skelly takes her readers on a roller coaster journey through her life as an artist and as an art therapist while at the same being challenged by her own mental illness. At the heart of her book the author chronicles her experience as a compassionate creative therapist, providing innovative therapies for older adults whose lives have been shattered by their illnesses. The therapist, the writer and the wounded healer unite with the award-winning artist to give a face to these fragile elders and herself by telling heartrending stories that she illustrates with her personal artwork. In the process of integrating her experiences and those of individuals she has treated, she also offers hope for the mentally ill as she shares the healing she discovers through creative processes for her own damaged psyche.