Jessica Girard, MA
Education: M.A. Art Therapy, The George Washington University
B.A. Studio Art/History, Brandeis University
Location: Pediatric Specialists of Virginia’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Joined Tracy’s Kids: As an intern in 2011, and as an employee in 2012
Artistic Interests: Painting (oil, acrylic and watercolor) and collage
Favorite Artists: Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, and Jasper Johns
Three words to describe me: Kind, creative, and passionate
Favorite Places: Cape Cod, New Hampshire, and South Africa
Reflection: By offering our patients and their families an individualized, self-guided, creative outlet for expression, we are able to help them navigate the extremely difficult, frightening, often chaotic journey through cancer treatment. Time and time again, I have seen a family’s experience in the clinic transformed by the power of the creative process. It is truly a privilege to witness the depth of courage and resilience shown by our patients and their families on a daily basis.
A highlight or accomplishment in my work this year: I helped to expand programming to Inova Children’s Hospital so that my patients and their families have access to in-patient art therapy services at the hospital!
An eleven year old girl whose father had been battling cancer for quite some time participated actively in art therapy sessions provided by Tracy's Kids in Northern Virginia. It is easy to imagine the fear and tension, maybe confusion, that would be in the mind of a child in that situation. One afternoon in early 2009, as the little girl left the art room, she discreetly left behind a Post-it note. Her brief message—a mere nine words—says all that needs to be said about Tracy's Kids.
