Catholic Charities shows special works at Arts Council gallery

NORWICH – As part of the Crime Victim’s Program at Catholic Charities, the organization offers a program in Expressive Art Therapy. On Friday night, for the first time, artwork created as part of the therapy program will be on display at the Chenango County Council of the Arts.

“The program allows clients to work through their issues through art,” said Lisa Smith, srt therapist at Catholic Charities. The work, mainly created by clients with a history of domestic violence, trauma or depression, will allow people to experience feelings that can’t be put into words.

Expressive Art Therapy integrates art with mental health therapy to help people express deep issues and pain. At Catholic Charities, the program is used with women who are healing from domestic violence, childhood abuse, sexual abuse and sexual assault.

“Sometimes trauma and pain are concepts that people keep at arms length. We don’t want to sensationalize it, but people need to understand that this is real and that there is a way to heal,” said Catholic Charities Executive Director Jane Coddington. Through the exhibit, Catholic Charities hopes to be able to share the healing, transformative process of Expressive Art Therapy with the public.