ITA Reflects on Impactful Connections in Retreat

Each year our team looks forward to coming together for the annual ITA staff retreat. The theme for the day was Matryoshkas: Building a Supportive Community and took place on the 14th of December. Brad Drozdowski, music therapist, started the day off with a Matryoshka experiential, exploring the many layers to each role we have as creative arts therapists, supervisors, community leaders, interns, parents, children, etc. As the staff created personal Matryoshkas or Russian nesting dolls, we reflected on the individuals we serve and how these roles intersect. Next, Jenni Rook, Executive Director, united the team in celebration of our accomplishments and how we sustain an effective organization as a nonprofit. Mid-day we found the team in fruitful discussion about best practices in creative arts therapy and how we support each other, followed by a clinical documentation training by program directors Jeffrey Wolfe, and Marni Rosen. The day culminated with a process group led by Amanda Ziemba, Programs Manager and Training Coordinator, and literally tying all our Matryoshkas together after discussing the ways we connected throughout the day.