2025 Sophia LaChance Exploring Memory Reconsolidation in the Veteran Population

Join Sophia LaChance, an art therapy graduate student at the Herron School of Art + Design in Indianapolis, Indiana, as she presents her compelling thesis research, "Exploring Memory Reconsolidation in the Veteran Population." Inspired by her internship at the VA, Sophia investigates how art therapy can integrate with memory reconsolidation to reduce PTSD symptoms in veterans, offering a novel approach to processing traumatic memories.

Sophia’s research explores how art therapy aligns with memory reconsolidation’s mismatch experience, transforming distressing memories into less emotionally charged ones without erasing them. By using art materials for symbolic externalization, art therapy provides a gradual, sensory-based method to access trauma, improving self-esteem, emotional distance, and narrative control. Despite limited direct evidence, her literature review identifies promising connections, emphasizing the need for further studies to establish long-term efficacy.

Conducted at Herron (https://herron.indianapolis.iu.edu), this research advocates for art therapy as a vital tool for veterans with PTSD and calls for expanded clinical research. Learn more about Herron’s Art Therapy program at https://herron.indianapolis.iu.edu/academics/gdegrees/art-therapy/index.html and support this transformative work. Like, share, and subscribe to amplify Sophia’s mission to enhance PTSD treatment for veterans!