Posted April 15, 2022
To listen to Gina speak about her role at Catholic Charities, watch the video here.
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The word ‘art’ is described in millions of ways by different people. Many may say that art is paintings, sculptures, photography, etc., but what about therapy?
Art therapy is one that people may not think about but is used every day to help those take a mental break.
Catholic Charities Matt Talbot for Men is an all-men substance abuse residential treatment center in Cuyahoga County that helps those who struggle with addiction.
This program has its own art therapy class that participants use to be in the moment and create things that they may not be able to communicate.
“The clients do all sorts of things. There’s art psychotherapy, and there’s art as therapy. We do a lot of art as therapy here because art just tends to be cathartic and therapeutic,” Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist Gina Santora said.
One of the projects Santora does with clients is the support system weaving.
For this project, clients list things and people they consider to be part of their support system. After, they pick a different string for each support and weave them into one net.
“We talk about kind of having a support net, things that keep them safe once they transfer back to the community,” Santora said.
What makes Catholic Charities’ residential program stand out is that the employee offices are in the living spaces of the clients.
Because of this, the employees and clients are able to connect closely and be there for them for whatever needs clients may have.
“While 60 days is a short period of time, when they’re doing treatment 6 hours a day, you really get to know them. So much it creates this family environment, and a lot of times our clients are very appreciative and actually want to come back and work with us,” Santora said.
Over her 5 years of being with Matt Talbot, Santora believes that she has the best job.
“I feel like I have the best job here because I get to do what I love, and the clients really do enjoy being in the room and this space and doing something they normally wouldn’t do in the unit, and I get to be a part of that,” Santora said.
This program is accepting donations! For those who would like to donate, please contact Gina Santora at gmsantora@ccdocle.org
To learn more about Matt Talbot, click the button below.
Part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
