© 2024 WOSU Public Media
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cleveland Clinic Akron General Arts Therapy Program Aims to Help Chronic Illness

Janean Ray
/
Summit Artspace

A local therapy program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General will help adults with chronic illnesses explore the arts.

It’s called HeRe We Arts. It’s a therapy program that uses music, visual arts, movement, theater and writing to help treat things like mental illness, arthritis and diabetes. Lisa Gallagher, the research program manager, says participants have seen success with these groups, with some feeling less chronic pain.

Gallagher on the program

“They’ve formed great connections within the groups that have continued outside of the groups. They’ve asked us to continue," she says. "Once the eight weeks is over, they’ve asked for more."

It’s an eight-week-long controlled trial. Half of the participants will get art therapy starting on May 4, and the other half will begin in the fall. 

Copyright 2021 WKSU. To see more, visit WKSU.

Andrew is a senior journalism major and a columnist for the Kent Stater. Alongside being a resident assistant in the honors community, he has worked as the web editor for the Burr Magazine and the campus editor for the Kent Stater. He looks forward to the professional learning opportunities afforded to him through his internship at WKSU.