BETHESDA, Md., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Laura Di Franco, the CEO of Brave Healer Productions, a Bethesda-based book publishing company, announces the release of Expressive Arts: The Ultimate Creative Guide to Transforming Stress, a collection of personal stories and actionable tips for reducing stress and trauma through dancing, painting, writing and playing. The book is particularly timely, given that a recent report from MSN found that 40% of Americans are experiencing great stress.

Lead author Jean Voice Dart, an expressive arts therapist, says, "The expressive arts magically help us when other treatments fail. They are safe, effective, and practical. Witnessing others heal through the transformative power of the arts sparked the vision for this collaborative book. It features diverse, talented, worldwide creative artists, therapists, practitioners, teachers, and specialists who share their unique healing methods through the creative and performing arts."

She adds, "Each chapter in this book provides tools to transform stress, not to remove stress. Nor does it teach us to attain artistic perfection. It's about providing practical methods and techniques to shift from stressed to blessed through creative action, regardless of our chosen modality or skill level."

There are chapters on crafting or painting one's way through trauma and harnessing the power of dance. Contributors include Laura Elizabeth Ballerini, Katie Bruzzone, Brigette Burton, Solarzar Dellaporta, Megan Edge, Terri K. Fitzsimmons, Norman Gordon, Kathy Harmon-Luber, Kate Hawkes, Mari Jack. Sara Jane, Gabrielle Ariella Kaplan-Mayer, Laura Mayer, Dr. Charleen M. Michel, Anna Pereira, Grace Rosen, Bonnie Sheldon, Sensei Timothy Stuetz, Mindy J. Trisko, Ingrid Tyson, and Sofanya White.

Praise for the book

"This book is a breath of fresh, colorful air for anyone carrying the heavy weight of stress — a soul-sparked invitation to heal and reconnect with the joy that lives inside us all. As someone who's spent a lifetime in the media spotlight, I know firsthand the power of creative expression to transform pain into purpose. Through painting, writing, dancing, and more, each author reminds us that creativity isn't just an outlet, it's a lifeline. Raw, honest, and deeply empowering, this book gently guides you back to peace (and joy) one expressive breath at a time." — Shari Alyse, America's Joy Magnet, TV host "Good Morning Joy," author of Love Yourself Happy and Joy Unleashed 

"Thank you, Jean Voice Dart, and all the contributing authors of this book, for sharing your profound stories of transformation through the arts and tools all of us can use to bring health and happiness to our lives." —Sharon Carne, founder of Sound Wellness and the Sound Wellness Institute

"Leaving no room for excuses, these expressive art experts invite you into their worlds and show you how easy it is to access your own creative expression as a means of overcoming any challenging life circumstance." —Bradford W. Tilden, author, composer, Master Vibrational Healer

Author Bio

Jean Voice Dart, M.S., RMT, is an international best-selling author, expressive arts psychotherapist of nearly 50 years, and a certified coach and teacher who navigated through grief, trauma, shame, and pain, up-leveling her life from stressed to blessed. She has witnessed a lifetime of miraculous transformations as she helped other people feel, reveal, and heal through the arts. To learn more about Jean, visit https://jeanvoicedart.com. 

About Brave Healer Productions

Brave Healer Productions specializes in book publishing and business strategy for healers. It has published nearly 100 Amazon best-selling books, including the series "The Ultimate Guide to Self-Healing" and "The Wellness Universe Guide to Complete Self-Care."

Find a list of services offered by Brave Healer Productions at https://lauradifranco.com.

Contact: Laura Di Franco, (703) 915-3653; 399341@email4pr.com; www.BraveHealer.com or Jean Voice Dart, 399341@email4pr.com

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