Bloomington cancer support center offers art and music therapy programs free of charge
The trauma of cancer affects everyone it touches and one Bloomington center offers free programs that can help soothe the pain and provide a way through the process.
Inspired by the cancer support system in Indianapolis, Bloomington's Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana offers art and music therapies — just two of a variety of free programs — for local residents affected by cancer.
"We were astounded by the range of services and impressed by the (Indianapolis) organization," said Dana Cattani. Cattani is a volunteer advisory council member at the Bloomington center and also serves on the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer planning committee.
Cattani was part of an exploratory group that toured Cancer Support Community Indiana's center in Indianapolis.
"Seven or eight years ago, Bloomington Hospital Foundation board members were looking for new ideas to help local cancer patients manage the physical, mental, social and financial burdens of treatment and survivorship," she said.
When the opportunity arose, the newly rebranded Bloomington Health Foundation and IU Health joined to invite Cancer Support Community to start a satellite cancer-support center in Bloomington.
Why use art and music at a cancer center?
When people confront a health crisis, words can be difficult to find, according to arttherapy.org. "Their own words or language fail them."
Art and music therapies, on the other hand, can encourage clients to design and paint or sing what they're thinking.
Art and music therapy are professional mental health areas. Therapists can help patients — and their support networks — as participants create projects using psychology in a therapeutic relationship.
"Bailee Taylor is our open-arts facilitator," said Katie Tremel, Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana program manager. "Bailee guides conversations during art making." Taylor may ask, "How was your week?" as blue-purple splashes onto a canvas.
Taylor is a licensed mental health therapist as well as a licensed art therapist and licensed mental health counselor. She understands that traditional talk therapy can help, but for some people it just doesn't work.
Someone working on a piece of art may also give nonverbal cues through body language, cues a trained social worker might recognize.
Art and music making can be effective during change, sadness and trauma. One way is by allowing the "artist" to feel a degree of control, as they create. The activities have been shown to decease depression and anxiety — and not just for people affected by cancer, but also veterans with PTSD and tuberculosis-isolated patients.
Art and music can mange pain, as the clients redirect thought patterns from fear or pain to the media they're using.
Participants don't need to be "creative"
You're not artsy? Some kind of creativity lives in almost everyone. It helps to remember which kinds of art and music moved you as a child.
During sessions at the center, social workers introduce an array of media, including collage, paint, markers, pencils and clay. Some social workers will bring pebbles, feathers and mosses. Others will bring musical instruments and discover what styles of music appeal to which participants.
John Andrews-Carrico, a local business owner and U.S. Air Force veteran, discovered the Bloomington center while reading a brochure at the radiation clinic where he was receiving cancer treatment.
"I needed a little nudge to get to the center," he said. His two siblings had died of cancer, and his baby daughter had struggled with it and survived.
"My biggest fear about the center was coming through the front door that first time. But they're just so excited you're here."
Andrews-Carrico has taken art classes at Ivy Tech in Bloomington and in private studios. He's used acrylic, oil and watercolor.
Music therapist Valerie Jones, a board certified music therapist, offers a group called Supportive Sounds once a month, too.
"During yoga and art and music therapy people can feel safe," Tremel said. "This is a cry zone. It's safe to cry."
"When you get people to be creative the endorphins flow," Andrews-Carrico said. He has seen people at the Bloomington center "let go of something while doing their artwork." He compared those classes to "family reunions without the potato salad."
If you go
WHAT: Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana's free programs to aid people affected by cancer
WHERE: 1719 W. Third St. Enter immediately on your left from Landmark Avenue.
WHEN: Mondays and Fridays, by appointment only, and 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
FREE: All programs are free and open to anyone affected by cancer including patients, survivors, family, friends and caregivers. Call 812-233-3286 or email info@cancersupportscin.org for more information.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington cancer support center offers art, music therapy for free
