I am a Mental Health Counselor Licensed in Florida, a Professional Counselor Licensed in Connecticut, and have a Master’s in Art Therapy from Albertus Magnus College in Connecticut.
I was motivated to apply for the Art Therapy graduate program after working with At-Risk-Youth in an afterschool art program. The student’s stimulated my curiosity to know additional ways the creative process can be helpful to emotional and cognitive development. Specifically, I wanted to learn how I could support and encourage our children to use art making as a tool for self-expression towards self-actualization. My hope for our youth was for them to improve their ability to manage their emotions and behaviors while gaining technical skills.
My Art Therapy training included learning the theory of developmental stages, psychopathology, theoretical approaches to counseling, multi-cultural understanding, ethics, and research. I completed a thesis based upon my research of the assessment tool Draw a Person in the Rain as it relates to the ability to cope with perceived stressors, which was published in The Arts in Psychotherapy 37 (2010) 233-239. My training included internships at community mental health facilities, and a hospital where I was able to apply the theoretical knowledge of using art materials, and art making as a therapeutic tool.
Sarasota Contemporary Dance provides a variety of physically integrated dance and movement modalities for people in different stages of their lives and abilities.
Our Physically Integrated Dance Program includes Dance for Parkinson’s, Dance for Autism, and an ongoing collaborative choreographic process with artists from around the area, the country, and the world who are pushing the boundaries of dance and pushing past their physical challenges.
Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott was the first in Florida to receive a Dance in Healing certificate (now developed as the Dance in Healthcare Certificate Program) from the University of Florida. In 2014 Sarasota Contemporary Dance was awarded the Arts & Cultural Alliance’s Leadership Award for Arts in Healthcare.
If you are interested in improving the health of yourself, your organization, your business, or your community in an uplifting non-traditional “out of the box” electrifying manner, then contacting Hedda Matza- Haughton, LCSW, President of “For The Health of it” Consultation Services is the answer. Ms. Matza- Haughton integrates improvisational interactive drama, laughter, fun and play in her education/ prevention training programs to achieve health and wellness of individuals, businesses, and organizations, which have physiological, psychological, and organizational outcomes and health benefits. For example, her work facilitates an increase in problem solving and creative thinking skills in dealing with a variety of personal life, business, management and organizational situations.
Providing Creativity, and Healing through Expressive Arts. Using Visual Arts, Writing , Movement, Sound, & Drama to encourage personal insights, positive changes & community connections.
I teach Fluid Dance, a creative movement class based on my training in the expressive arts and several different dance modalities. I also lead or collaborate in offering expressive arts sessions for groups and individuals.
By partnering the use of the arts in healthcare, it is my desire that the work I do will help bring about peace, wellness, good health and not only to the people I serve but to my community as well.
Certificate Training in Expressive Arts, Art as a Healing Practice Workshops, Mandala-making, REAT supervision, individual sessions,CEU trainings for mental health practitoners.
Elizabeth provides counseling and arts based programming for patients and their loved ones dealing with the many challenges associated with a diagnosis of cancer and other chronic illnesses in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Elizabeth practices counseling, coaching and consulting with a holistic view as she believes when mind, body, emotions and spirit are all working as one there is great opportunity for insight and growth. She utilizes mind-body skills and the expressive arts to help individuals and loved ones cope with illness and other life challenges, promote healing and achieve an overall sense of well being.
I am an expressive arts facilitator, co-founder and core faculty at Expressive Arts Florida Institute.
Cathy has always known that “playing” with her clay and art materials has helped her feel better and stay positive. Even as a child, her intuition told this truth. In essence, Cathy’s ability to write, create art and share with others led her to study Art and Education with a BA and MS in both. She has taught in both public and private schools and volunteered in the community. She was awarded the Pennsylvania State Teachers Award after completing her undergraduate work at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania. While raising a family, she pursued Interior Design Consulting Certification and started Liott Interiors & Mia’s Designs in 1990. For 25 years she has practiced and served many clients in Sarasota, creating beautiful yet functional designs. She presently continues Liott Interiors & Mia’s Designs on a consultation basis only.
Life’s twists and turns always brought Cathy back to expressing and healing herself through the arts. She considers creativity a birthright and after receiving a Certificate in Expressive Arts Facilitating at Expressive Arts Florida Institute, she hopes to share the healing practice with others. After an internship at Girls, Inc. last summer, Women in Search…Healing Through the Arts was born!! The work with the girls validated her childhood practice of “going in” to discover and explore creative solutions for life skills! All the modalities such as dance, movement, music, sounding, visual arts, journaling, meditation are all layered in different ways to allow for freedom of expression in a very non- judgmental way.
Cathy continues to gain new perspectives on life through her own expressive arts practice of working with clay/pottery/sculpture and multi media art. “Playshops” are designed to create a safe container for those attending to witness one another and trust the process of creating for the sake of creating! She also enjoys traveling, journaling, walking the beach, gardening and playing with her grandson.
Patrice is a professional book illustrator, poet, writer, art educator and art & healing practitioner. She holds a BFA degree in Illustration and a Certificate in Art & Healing from the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. For nearly 30 years Patrice has worked in the field of illustration and art education. She is a Fine Art Specialist K-12 at Oak Park School, Sarasota County’s center school for the mentally, physically and emotionally challenged.
As an art educator she has been a faculty member of the Continuing Studies programs at Ringling College of Art & Design, Booker VPA, Art Center Sarasota, Venice Art Center, MacMurray College as well as an Artist-in-Residence at Girl Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs. Patrice has been a collaborating art educator with VSA teaching artists, her students and fellow teachers on Building Bridges in the Community funded by grants from the Kennedy Center and Van Wezel Performing Arts Center. This work earned her the prestigious C/SPA Distinguished Arts Educator Award for Leadership in Arts Education 2012 for Sarasota County. She has also been a teaching fellow at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, Maine College of Art in Portland and most recently at Moore College in Philadelphia. Presently she is completing her book, Feather Mountain which is soon to be published.
Patrice’s life has been greatly enriched by her studies in the healing arts, and has led her to develop programs to enrich the lives of others. She feels the intermodal foundations of expressive arts allows for a more holistic approach to accessing our creative spirit. Our search to connect with our authentic art spirit provides a motivation to attain balance and wellness. This promotes a genuine sense of happiness and fulfillment as we travel on our life path.
I created the Parkinson Café in 2009 to provide social, cultural and intellectual interaction for people with Parkinson’s disease and their families.
My husband Brad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2005 when he was in his forties.
Brad was a type-A corporate executive who became unable to work. It was a major adjustment. We asked ourselves, “now what?”
We attended traditional support groups and educational symposiums sponsored by the local NPF chapter to learn everything we could about Parkinson’s. Brad and I both volunteered to be on the NPF chapter executive committee.
We started recreating our lives and finding activities that we “can do.” Less became more. Stress-free became a major goal. (Stress literally makes Brad freeze, unable to move.)
In 2008 I started searching for a program to meet Brad’s needs and couldn’t find anything that was right, so I decided to create something new. That’s how the Parkinson Cafe concept was born.
By arranging fun events and helping others facing similar challenges, Brad and I became able to feel happy and maintain a positive attitude.
H.E.A.R.T.S. (Healing thru Expressive Arts and Recreational Therapy Services): A program to help improve well-being and build relationships, all while having fun. Programs are theme based, with a mixture of music, creative arts and movement. The benefits of play can occur at any age. When we play we will see the results of expanded self-expression, self-knowledge, self-actualization and self-efficacy. Through creative play we can alleviate feelings of stress and boredom and will allow connectedness to people in a positive way.
Ageless Grace R: A unique movement program. The exercises, based on everyday movements focus on the healthy longevity of the body and the brain, based on the science of neuroplasticity. Engagement Training: Having conducted hundreds of “HEARTS” programs, she has created a training program for Activity professionals and others looking to learn engagement techniques with people of all ages and abilities. Team Building: Using similar techniques and skills programs are designed to recruit, train and retrain the best teams. By using cooperative play, organizations can strengthen communication, trust and cooperation. It is said that “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than a year of conversation” Let us spend an hour with you
The Assistant Director of The SOURCE and director of our teen program, Amanda Schlachter is a professional actress and director. Amanda, who recently graduated from The University of Florida with her Master of Fine Arts in Theatre, is a former SOURCE member herself and comes to the SOURCE with a great passion and commitment for the program. While at UF, Amanda worked with The Center for Arts in Medicine at Shands with a focus on Arts and Healing and worked with many diverse populations to bring theatre to help educate and enlighten different groups. Amanda has been a professional actress, director and teacher for the last 20 years working with such companies as Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Asolo Rep, The Players Theatre, The Sarasota Film Festival and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Scott is originally from the New York/ New Jersey area and currently lives in Bradenton Beach, Florida with his wife Dorothy. The area’s known drummer/ percussionist enjoys a busy performance, recording and teaching schedule. Scott discovered early in his career work with children and adults of all abilities, that his music and improvisation skills could have a powerful impact on health and well being. Drumming and rhythm can have a positive effect on mind and body healing.
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern and Master’s level drama therapist working with children, adolescents, and adults, specializing in developing group therapy programs for personal development and mental and social health. In process toward obtaining Florida licensure as a Mental Health Counselor. Skilled in applying drama therapy and expressive techniques to teaching CBT/DBT and socio-emotional skills. Able to reach, educate and influence others by seeing them as individuals, treating them as people, and building trust. Highly adaptable, intuitive, and energetic team player who leads with curiosity and attention to detail. Administrative experience working on artistic integration projects with government agencies (Juvenile Justice, Department of Education) as well as private grantors. Published researcher on drama therapy for social justice matters and using drama therapy in service of supporting the therapeutic relationship.
The past, stigma, and social influences can be a lot to overcome. Expressive art welcomes everyone.
An empowerment coach and wellness advocate for creative women, Didi helps creative, spiritual women step Into Great – and integrate all sides of themselves. Her integrative approach to living and creating is shown by her own artistic energy and projects, and she is passionate about guiding others to stretch into their potential.
Didi founded Yoga on Lido at Sunset, a beach yoga, movement, and outdoor meditation practice, and she is the creator of many online courses, including The Self-Care Chair and the coaching program Transition and Transformation.
A former New York City editor, teaching artist, and children’s museum program creator, Didi brings her children’s book and craft programs to libraries and schools.