Kathy Schnur, RN, BSN, MEd, ATR-BC, Art Therapist, Henry Ford Health System

A graduate of the University of Michigan Nursing School, Kathy Schnur’s career began in ICU and specialty nursing, progressed to home care nursing, and eventually took her back to school, where she earned a master’s degree in Art Therapy at Wayne State University. Combining her love of art and helping others has brought her to hospital and school settings, where she leads art therapy groups. She has worked with people of all ages who are coping with many different challenges and situations, including health conditions and trauma.As a nurse, Schnur learned the importance of caring for yourself before caring for others. In her art therapy classes, she focuses on encouraging people to use their hands in a sensory type of way – through making art – that helps the brain relax. Participants report decreased worry and increased calm. Her goal is to offer a place where caregivers feel supported and encouraged to express themselves through their art and through sharing their stories. Relationships, she says, are key for caregivers who are looking to refresh, renew and become more resilient.