CEA Therapies provide services throughout the hospital and consists of four music therapists, a dance/movement therapist, and a visual art specialist.  Regardless of the discipline, the emphasis is always on what the individual can learn about him/herself in relation to self and the larger world through the creative process, rather than on any artistic product. 

Participation in the arts is an energizing, organizing and normalizing human behavior.  It is at once both a shared, communal experience, as the individual’s product is laid out before others; yet it is intensely personal, as only the creator knows what he/she is trying to convey through the creative act.  The staff of CEA Therapies seek to create a safe, supportive environment that provides opportunities for patients to present or represent themselves and their experiences through music, art, dance, drama and creative writing.  Through the therapeutic relationship, CEA Therapies staff provide guidance so that the patient can utilize the creative experience to uncover and address his/her emotional, physical, social or spiritual needs.

Common goals that would be addressed in CEA programs could include: increasing attending behaviors and cognitive organization, fostering positive social skills, enhancing feelings of confidence and self-worth, developing body awareness and healthier body image, promoting self-awareness and self-expression, developing stress management and relaxation skills and expanding the individual’s repertoire of healthy leisure alternatives.

Finally, over and above the immediate clinical goals, the staff of CEA Therapies also try to instill in each patient a sense of curiosity, even wonder, about the fundamental need for beauty and the innate creativity within us all.  The population served by this hospital often feels disenfranchised in relation to the arts. During their involvement in CEA programs, patients are encouraged to develop a life-long interest in the arts on some level.  This may lead to active involvement as part of their aftercare program.  In this manner, CEA Therapies hope to return individuals to the community that are more fully-functioning humans with a wider range of wellness options and another tangible way to connect with and contribute to their home communities.

Related Internet Sites

Printable Version