She faced her own trauma and now helps others through art therapy

Living through a near drowning and serious medical diagnosis, this practitioner is helping others.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfendder1@iuhealth.org

There’s a photo published in the spring of 2008 of a blonde-headed girl dressed in a pink dress. She is joined by Tracy Murphy and Amanda Gray – two women who worked for the Arc of Indiana in Blackford and Grant Counties.

The summer before the photo was published in the Arc’s newsletter, Murphy and Gray were credited for saving the young girl’s life. That girl, Lauren Belcher was 5 years old when the women pulled her from a public pool in Marion, Ind. and began administering CPR.

“I was at a local water park with my family when a kid came down the slide with is feet hanging over the side. I was standing in waist-deep water, he kicked me in stomach and knocked me out,” said Belcher, a strong swimmer. Her body traveled a good few meters and was under a wall, undetected by any of the lifeguards. Another child pulled her out the water and the two women began resuscitation.

“I was blue, my heart wasn’t beating, and I wasn’t breathing,” said Belcher, who woke up in an ambulance and spent the next several days in a local hospital.

Fast forward, Belcher is now 24 and working with trauma patients at IU Health Methodist Hospital. After completing her undergraduate degree at Taylor University, majoring in pre-art therapy with a preventative medicine minor, she is now working on her master’s degree at UIndy with a focus on mental health counseling and art therapy. As part of her master’s program Belcher is working as an intern with IU Health.

The near drowning wasn’t the only time Belcher faced trauma. At the age of 10, she became a patient at IU Health’s Riley Hospital for Children when she was diagnosed with Kienbock’s disease. The rare condition caused the small bone in her wrist to lose blood supply, causing severe pain. In some cases, the disease can result in avascular necrosis (bone death). Belcher wore a removable cast for 10 months.

Later at the age of 13, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She was transported from her home in Marian to IU Health North Hospital. She remains in the care of Riley pediatric endocrinology and Dr. John S. Fuqua.

As a result of her personal experiences with health challenges, and her interest in art, Belcher decided to combine the two into art therapy. Her techniques and training help patients explore feelings, reduce stress, and improve their overall mental health.

“All the people I had helping me through hospital stays had a big influence on my career choice,” said Belcher. She also has an older brother who studied athletic training, a grandfather who was a radiologist, one who was a doctor, and a grandmother who was a nurse.

“I’ve known since I was young that this is what I wanted to do,” said Belcher. Growing up she tried anything and everything that related to art – ceramics, sewing, photography, crochet. As she leaned into her career, adding the mental health aspect to her role, she uses art as a means of communication.

Working with trauma patients she sees a lot of people who have been in motor vehicle accidents, shootings, or falls. Most are trying to regain their independence, so she works closely with rehabilitative services and other medical professionals.

One of the first patients she met with was a victim of a dog attack. The patient suffered significant mobility loss and Belcher used a paintbrush to help the patient regain control of movement and self-expression. Another patient with vision loss used his hands to communicate through art therapy.

“Through art therapy I’ve seen patients begin imagining a brighter future. It helps build their autonomy and independence and helps them cope emotionally and mentally.”