By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Tucked away in a former storage room at OhioGuidestone in Perrysburg are shelves filled with paint and paintbrushes, glue sticks and construction paper, modeling clay and stickers, and a virtual rainbow of art supplies.
Inside the space at 885 Commerce Drive is where art happens, and personal growth develops.
Maddy VanHorn, an art therapist and counselor at OhioGuidestone, believes strongly in the power of art for all ages. She joined the counseling center about a year ago with the goal to help build an Expressive Arts Program for the Wood County office.
“We (OhioGuidestone) offer Expressive Arts therapy in several other locations and see the benefits,” said Victoria Graham, regional director for Wood, Lucas and Hancock counties. “We knew we wanted to expand our services in Wood County by adding Expressive Arts therapy.”
VanHorn’s hiring was truly serendipitous, Graham said. Not only had they identified the potential storage room as the future art studio, but the agency also had just received funds from the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board to purchase art supplies and materials to establish an art therapy program in Wood County.
Developed functional art studio space tailored to facilitating expressive arts therapy sessions utilizing painting, sculpture, drawing, and additional art materials within three months of employment.
The job had not been posted for an art therapist. However, VanHorn had applied to be an outpatient therapist at the Wood County location. When Graham noticed VanHorn’s background and interest in art therapy, she knew it was a meant-to-be hire.
In the year since she was hired, VanHorn has worked with many clients as both a counselor and art therapist.
Counseling relies on the art of conversation, while art therapy centers on non-verbal communication and expression through the creative process.
Sometimes the individual will come to a session with feelings that they want to put on paper, and other times, an individual will create their art that allows them to bring out their feelings, she explained.
Once they are in the art studio, individuals have the latitude to paint, draw, sculpt, and create with any of the multitude of traditional and nontraditional supplies available. They often use found or recycled items for their creations, VanHorn said.
“I love how art can make such a huge difference for individuals,” she said.
Currently, there are approximately 40 people who participate in creating art in the studio. Her clients range in age from about 7 to 70.
She also has partnered with the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio and facilitated expressive art therapy groups for its residents.
Art can also be a tool for breaking the stigma of counseling and behavioral health, Graham said. “We often find when artists share stories about their art, that can help the artists and others realize they are not alone.”
“There is so much joy in watching as people finish a piece and feel such an accomplishment,” VanHorn said. “Their artwork is valued, and they are valued.”
It’s a powerful combination.
Summer Creativity Camp for youths 7-17
With summer around the corner, VanHorn plans to offer Creativity Camp as part of the Wood County Expressive Arts Program.
Summer can be a time of isolation away from friends in school, with fewer activities to keep youths involved and engaged.
The short-term camp will be for 7- to 17-year-olds who would benefit from using creative arts to help develop coping skills and support mental wellness during the summer.
Dates have not yet been finalized; they hope to get a sense of dates that will work best for individuals. Families who have children who could benefit from the art therapy camp are asked to call VanHorn at 419-465-8289 to determine eligibility and identify potential dates.
If there is enough interest, she would like to schedule camps for different age groups and possibly more than one camp. The maximum capacity for a camp is 12 individuals. The cost is based on income, while Medicaid and some insurances can cover the fee. There are additional resources to help if cost is a limiting factor. Call VanHorn at 419-465-8289 or the Wood County office at 419-330-1349 for more information about costs, eligibility or schedules.
