Nine years ago, during college, Matt contracted Viral Encephalitis and suffered a stroke, which impaired his ability to communicate and limited his movement. Through art and music therapy at Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) Matt has regained important skills that have improved the quality of his day-to-day life. Hear Matt and his father talk about Matt’s journey and his experience at ITA working with Music Therapist, Brad Drozdowski and Art Therapist, Cara Wellvang.

The approaches discussed in this video are some of the many methods ITA therapists use when working with clients. Creative Arts Therapies can assist a wide range of individuals, including Aphasia, Dementia, and mood disorders.  Learn more about our Individual and Group services, or call our Intake line at 847-213-0756 x 590 to set up an appointment. 

Can you feel music? Are you moved by the beat? There is a good reason for this, Jenni will tell you what happens, why it works, and how the applications go far beyond moving your hips.

Institute for Therapy Through the Arts celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015. Hear from founding director Toddy Richman and former executive director, Jenni Rook.

Operation Oak Tree is ITA’s programming for military children and families throughout the cycle of deployment.

This video was produced by ITA therapists with the RIC Aphasia YouTube class. The class attendees starred in the short film, made all choices regarding uses of language, gestures, and context, and made the film for people with Aphasia by people with Aphasia. The film provides a story of a person recently diagnosed with aphasia taking a journey. Along the way, she meets others with aphasia who tell their personal tales of how life endures through strength, challenges, and new discoveries. It is our hope that this movie will reach other aphasia centers, or people with aphasia, that can then make their own short movies to advocate, inform, and share their own journey.

As a result of the generous time and efforts on behalf of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, ITA was able to roll out this amazing video at our fundraiser on April 28th, 2017. The video showcases a client of ITA Music therapist Jeffrey Wolfe and the clients successes and growth from Music Therapy.