The Power of Art in Dementia Care: A Conversation with Erica Curcio, LMHC, ATR-BC Board Certified Art Therapist.
Updated: 6 hours ago
Interview by Mare Ruland, Simon Health
When I spoke with Erica Curcio, one thing became clear almost immediately: her work is not simply about art.
It’s about presence.
It’s about creating moments where people living with dementia are seen not through the lens of loss, but through capability, creativity, autonomy, and connection.
Erica Curcio, LMHC, ATR-BC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Board-Certified Art Therapist based in the Boston area. She specializes in providing in-home art therapy for people living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions.
Our conversation explored art therapy, nervous system regulation, caregiver burnout, adaptive creativity, and the powerful reminder that even when words fade, expression still remains.
Q: Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you found your way into dementia care and art therapy?
My background actually started in interior design, but after graduating in 2008, I realized it wasn’t the path I wanted to pursue. I ended up working as a cake decorator, and surprisingly, that’s where I first discovered how much I loved creativity, storytelling, and helping people express themselves.
Later, while in graduate school for art therapy, I completed an internship at an assisted living facility. Within a week, I knew older adults were the population I wanted to work with.
At the time, I had never even heard the word dementia. But once I stepped into that environment, I felt deeply connected to the residents and aware of how much these diseases reshape lives and relationships.
One resident in particular taught me what it means to communicate without words — and how art can become a form of connection when language becomes difficult.
Q: What led you to start your private practice?
I spent years working in assisted living communities as both an activity director and memory care director, but I always felt pulled back toward the actual art therapy work.
In 2020, I was supposed to begin a newly created art therapist role right as COVID hit. Like so many people in healthcare, the reality of the pandemic completely changed what the job became.
Eventually, I decided to take the leap and build my own private practice focused on in-home art therapy for people living with dementia and neurodegenerative conditions.
Families slowly began reaching out through word of mouth, and by the end of summer 2021, I had a full practice.
Q: What does a typical art therapy session look like?
Every session is individualized.
Before I leave my house, I think through each client and pack supplies tailored specifically to them. Some people need more structure and visual support, while others thrive with complete creative freedom.
One client I work with is an incredibly talented painter but struggles with visual processing and depth perception. They may not consistently hold a conversation, but when discussing their artwork, they can analyze it in remarkable detail.
What’s fascinating is that a few minutes later, they may not remember creating the piece at all.
And that’s important for people to understand: just because someone may not remember the activity later doesn’t mean the moment itself wasn’t meaningful.
The nervous system still remembers the feeling.
Q: You spoke a lot about nervous system regulation and emotional connection. Why is that so important in dementia care?
Even if someone cannot access the memory afterward, they can still experience calm, safety, connection, and accomplishment in the moment.
I see clients physically soften during sessions. Their facial expressions change.
Their bodies relax.
Sometimes it’s not even about the art itself.
It’s about having someone fully present with them without rushing, correcting, or expecting something from them.
For many caregivers, that kind of undivided attention is difficult to provide consistently because they’re exhausted. So often, the session becomes restorative not just for the person living with dementia, but for the entire household.
Q: What do families often notice after introducing art therapy?
One thing I hear often is, “I can’t believe they’re able to do this.”
Families become so focused on losses that they sometimes stop seeing what is still there.
Art makes capability visible again.
It creates opportunities for self-expression, choice-making, confidence, and emotional connection. Some families even begin incorporating art into everyday routines after seeing how meaningful it becomes.
My work is very strengths-based. I’m not looking at what someone has lost — I’m looking at what still exists and helping them continue to access it.
Q: What’s one simple thing families can try at home?
Start simple and focus on the environment first.
Clear visual clutter from the table and create contrast between the paper and the surface underneath it. Sometimes small environmental adjustments make a huge difference.
You don’t need complicated supplies. Watercolors, markers, collage materials, or even stickers can work beautifully.
Most importantly, meet the person where they are. Some people need structure and prompts, while others prefer freedom and exploration.
And don’t underestimate capability. With the right support, many people can still do far more independently than we assume.
Final Thoughts
What stayed with me most after speaking with Erica was the way she reframed art therapy — not as a craft activity, but as a form of connection, dignity, regulation, and emotional expression.
In a world that often focuses on what dementia takes away, Erica’s work gently reminds us to pay attention to what still remains.
About Erica
Erica Curcio, LMHC, ATR-BC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Board-Certified Art Therapist specializing in dementia and neurodegenerative conditions. Through her Boston-based in-home private practice, she helps people living with dementia reconnect with joy, confidence, autonomy, and emotional expression through individualized art therapy sessions.
She also provides virtual counseling and support for care partners and families navigating dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Learn more or schedule a free introductory call:
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