Art Without Boundaries Northeast Ohio

Frequently Asked Questions
with Noell Hammer, Founder, Art Without Boundaries™, MnemeTherapy™


Q: MnemeTherapy? Never heard of it. It is a form of art therapy?

A: No. Art Therapy is a psychological process and uses expressive or creative art with the goal of
exploring feelings. Our goal is provide a rewarding experience and we use everyday, pleasurable
experiences in a unique combination such as singing and painting, movements, story telling, and praise,
components that don't require supervision and licensing from the government. Instead of exploring
feelings, we try to achieve whole brain synchronization and sustained attentive focus. This may stimulate
neuroplasticity, or the ability to move functions and create new neural pathways.

The word "therapy" comes from the Greek "therapeia" meaning "a service, an attendance" which, in turn,
is related to the Greek verb "therapeuo" meaning "I wait upon." Therapy was (and is) a service for those
in need. In our case, we provide a service to those with issues pertaining to the brain.


Q: How did it get started?

A: In 2000, I was hired as Executive Director of a small Alzheimer's Association Chapter. For an upcoming
fund raiser, I started painting with Alzheimer's patients and "accidentally" discovered a process that
produced dramatic, immediate improvements. When the chapter territory was assigned to a larger
chapter, the program dropped and our chapter closed, I started using it as a private practice and after
many requests, incorporated AWBF in 2005 with the mission to train artists in the process. In 2010, we
changed to a professional association, and have opened 18 Affiliated Chapters in our first year and a
half.


Q: Why did you call it something unpronounceable?

I'm sure people had trouble pronouncing psychology at first as well. You are probably familiar with
another word, Mnemonic device. A memory help. MnemeTherapy™ is from Mnemosyne, short name,
Mneme, [pronounced NEMMA rhymes with EMMA] the Greek goddess of memory and mother of the nine
Muse. I liked the idea of that our process encompassed her daughters as well, not only memory, but the
Greek attributes for music, art, movement, history and story telling. Alas, we neglect Erato's erotic poetry
and Urania's astronomy, but...τέτοια είναι ζωή! (such is life)
So you don't get the wrong idea, we are only using her name like musicians use Muse or psychologists
use Psyches. This is not a new cult worshipping a mythological Greek Titan.


Q: Come on, did Autistic children and Alzheimer's patients really do these paintings? I find that
hard to believe.


A: Most people don't believe it until they see it. The paintings are done in a process called "Directed
Painting." We tell the client it's a lot like a cooking class. We know the recipe for the painting and we give
them the ingredients and instructions on how to do it.

What we don't get into is that it's the act of painting that's important. MnemeTherapists are trained to use
painting as an assessment tool, noting horizons, boundaries and other "tells". Based on information
gathered from the brain, the therapy then sends information to the brain and in a state of sustained
attentive focus, often the brain responds with its own assessment and course correction. To learn more
about the process visit our page Directed Painting
More info available @artwithoutboundaries.org