Celebrating creative arts therapies with veteran Donna Harge

Date Published: May 3, 2024

A black woman stands at a street intersection with her hands on her hips and smiling. The street sign behind her says "Central." — Veteran Donna Harge in Cleveland, Ohio’s Fairfax neighborhood. *Photo by Santina Protopapa*

Photo of a mask artwork painted with multiple colors. — Mask artwork created by veteran Donna Harge during an art therapy telehealth session with Gretchen Miller. *Photo courtesy of Donna Harge*

Portrait of a black woman in an Army uniform smiling while holding a gun. There is an American flag behind her. — Veteran Donna’s Harge’s portrait during Army service. *Photo courtesy of Donna Harge*

This year we celebrated Creative Arts Therapies Week in March by highlighting the experiences of veteran Donna Harge. Through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Whole Health program, Donna discovered art therapy and music therapy. Donna participates in art therapy and music therapy telehealth services offered through the Rural Veterans Telerehabilitation Initiative at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System (VANEOHS). “This is what I had been looking for, something to treat my entire mental, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual self,” she explained.

“This is what I had been looking for, something to treat my entire mental, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual self.”
Donna Harge

Donna was born and raised in the Fairfax neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. In the Army, Donna served three years in Active Duty and five years in the Reserve in combat support. Following the Army, she worked for the VA, serving in multiple roles and advancing to Executive Leader positions across four Veterans Integrated Service Networks in the VA.

She has worked in the VA systems in New York City, Washington, DC, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio. Along the way, she earned multiple degrees as part of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Chapter 31 Programs. She earned two bachelor’s degrees and an MS in Administration from Central Michigan University.

After her career in the Army and the VA, Donna became a world traveler. Among the places she has visited include Honduras, Aruba, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. With her return home to Cleveland, she also returned to the VA. This time at the Veterans Health Administration, she returned as a recipient of services instead of working as an administrator.

Transforming home

Donna has transformed her home into a center for creativity as she creates music and art weekly during her art therapy and music therapy sessions. Donna builds off of her background in music, having taken piano lessons over the last 15 years.

In her creative space, Donna displays the artwork she creates during art therapy, the drums she plays during music therapy, her service medals, and a college degree. Her keyboard anchors her creative space, where she loves playing Motown songs.

View of a corner of a room. There is art, military medals, a college degree, and percussion instruments mounted to one wall. Against the adjacent wall is a music keyboard with sheet music on top and a calendar and framed artwork on the wall above. There is a bench in front of the keyboard and headphones under the keyboard. — Veteran Donna Harge’s creative space at home. *Photo courtesy of Donna Harge*

Donna shared that her weekly journeys in music therapy and art therapy have taught her how to have fun again. “For us veterans, we deserve to have fun again … to be light again, to smile some more, to be lighthearted and enjoy this country that we fought to defend. I know that a lot of veterans will say, ‘I’m too old for that,’” she said. “The soul doesn’t age, just the body. It feels good to allow the soul to play again.”

Healing through art therapy

The VA sent Donna art supplies to work with during her art therapy telehealth sessions with Gretchen Miller, Art Therapist, HJF, in support of Creative Forces at VANEOHS. Donna’s supplies include paint, brushes, a sketchbook, a blank mask, papier-mâché, and other materials.

“When I started art therapy, I thought it was going to be about complicated technical art, like the art I see at the art museum. I was really intimidated,” Donna explained. “I told Gretchen that I don’t know anything about art. Every task seemed daunting until we started. And Gretchen just made it so easy to be vulnerable.”

Screenshot of a virtual art therapy session. A black woman wearing glasses smiles as she paints a mask. A white woman with glasses smiles and watches at the top of the frame. The text at the top says VA Video Connect. — Gretchen Miller, Art Therapist, HJF, in support of Creative Forces, connects with veteran Donna Harge during a telehealth session offered through the Rural Veterans Telerehabilitation Initiative at the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System.

Mask-making is among the projects that Donna has engaged in through art therapy. “Every task or assignment has been more healing than the last,” she said. “Gretchen has a kind soul. It is evident that she loves what she does, and she’s good at it. She comes from the perspective of, ‘I’m here to help you. I’m here for you.’”

“And we laugh, and we talk. And it’s not just about art,” Donna continued. “If something’s going on in my life that day and I need to talk about it, we talk about that and maybe not do any art. Gretchen’s goal is to make sure I’m okay. And my goal is to make sure I show up and participate.”

Freedom through music therapy

Donna’s music therapy journey began with Creative Forces music therapist Christian Mazza. Donna explored the piano with Christian and added new chords to her playing. “We then added drums. They had the coolest drums at the Youngstown VA. I would go to Youngstown to be amongst the drums and all of the different instruments that were in the space. There, I learned about tongue drums that sound like wind chimes,” Donna explained. “The tongue drum has a melodic tone that resonates. It’s a healing sound. They’re very calming.”

Photo of a black woman with shoulder-length hair smiling. She is wearing red glasses, a colorful shirt with flower patterns, and green pants while seated and holding a djembe drum. — Veteran Donna Harge holds her djembe that she plays during music therapy sessions. *Photo by Santina Protopapa*

Image of a black woman's hands on a djembe drum head. — Veteran Donna Harge’s hands on her djembe drum. *Photo by Santina Protopapa*

Donna currently participates in weekly music therapy individual and group telehealth sessions led by Karen Olean, Music Therapist, HJF, in support of Creative Forces at VANEOHS. During individual sessions, Karen sings and plays the piano. During group sessions, Donna plays the djembe with other veterans in the sessions.

“During my virtual music therapy, I have different stands that I use for my iPad. One stand for when I’m sitting and one stand for when I want to stand up during the session,” Donna explained. “Sometimes I want to stand up during our session, and I want to dance. Sometimes I want to listen to gospel music and reminisce and cry. The sessions allow me to be where my spirit is and be free to be wherever I am, mentally and emotionally. And the music Karen plays accompanies that.”

The sessions allow me to be where my spirit is and be free to be wherever I am, mentally and emotionally. And the music Karen plays accompanies that.”
Donna Harge

Connecting with community

“What I love about artists is that they’re really creative and know how to go with the flow,” Donna said. “In music therapy and art therapy, it doesn’t feel rigid. It doesn’t feel prescribed.”

Donna takes inspiration from the creativity she’s developed through music therapy and art therapy into her community. She travels to local community parks and plays her tongue drum, which she learned in music therapy.

When passers-by ask about her drum, she explains what it is and how she learned to play. She’s always excited to share, “I do music therapy at the VA. I’m a veteran.” It’s an extension of the work she’s done throughout her career – advocating for veterans and the services that are available to them. She’s supported veterans by helping them become service-connected and has shared with their caregivers how to access VA services.

Now that spring has arrived in Cleveland, Ohio, Donna is ready to share more music with veterans and their families in her neighborhood park.

Learn about the VA’s Whole Health Program here.