Institute for Therapy through the Arts (Creative Arts Therapy)

ITA is a nonprofit organization that helps people grow, heal, and express themselves through creativity. Is it hard to talk about your feelings sometimes? Maybe you feel overwhelmed, nervous about school, or you’re not sure how to make friends. Maybe you lost someone important to you. ITA offers other ways to connect and communicate through the creative arts therapies of music, art, drama, and movement. Our therapists work with kids, families, and adults, to help create a supportive space where everyone is welcome to explore their strengths, build confidence, and improve their emotional well-being. At ITA, with art therapy, you can use color or collage to explore emotions or interact with many different art materials that help strengthen connections between yourself and your school or community. Through dance and movement therapy you can use movement to become more aware of your mood and use dance to express your feelings. Strengthen your confidence and social skills by re-creating a song with others in a group with live instruments. Choose your own adventure in a Dungeons and Dragons-style drama therapy group, where you can create a role and be your own character while building coping strategies and social skills. The sky is the limit when it comes to creative ways to build your inner strengths and uplift your world. We offer individual and family therapy, group programs, and community workshops. Services can help with things like: Stress Anxiety Emotions Relationships Self-esteem Life challenges Developmental differences Trauma, and more. You don’t need to be an artist, or know how to play an instrument, nor be an actor or dancer to participate because the creative arts therapies are about self-expression, not performance. To get started, visit ITA’s website or contact the clinic to learn about available programs, schedule an appointment, or find a group that fits your interests and needs. ITA offers services in Evanston as well as in schools and community settings, making support accessible to young people throughout the community.

General Cost: $180

eLEAP Scholarship User Cost: $18