Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center
The Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children's provides holistic healing through the creative arts, which includes music therapy and art therapy. These offerings create opportunities for patients and families to engage in the arts for self-expression, coping and healing. The center is open to all patients and families who receive care from Akron Children’s. Inspired by Lauren Ellen Gartner and her friend, Maddy, who used the arts to cope with life-long illness, Dr. Sarah Friebert, former director of the Haslinger Pediatric Palliative Care Division, established the Expressive Therapy Center in 2011. Named for Emily Cooper Welty, in honor of her founding donation, it has received support from various organizations, including the Ohio Arts Council, Sam’s Fans, and many generous donors. Our group and individual services are provided at no cost and do not require insurance coverage. Opportunities for Akron Children’s staff to engage with the arts for self-care are also offered.
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Department: 330-543-4909
About Expressive Therapy
The center is open to all staff, patients and families who receive care from Akron Children’s. Our group and individual services are provided at no cost and do not require insurance coverage.
Named for Emily Cooper Welty, in honor of her $1.2 million donation, our Expressive Therapy Center has received support from various organizations, including Panera Bread, Ohio Arts Council, Northern Ohio Golf Charities, the Akron Children’s Women’s Board, the Paul and Carol David Foundation, the Helen Brach Foundation, the Howard Atwood Family, Eileen Burg, and Dr. Ron and Maureen Russ, among others.
There are also many ways you can support our center, including donations of creative art supplies or as a volunteer. Call 330-543-8424 to learn more.
In addition, local artists are encouraged to present their works at the center. Depending on the project, artists must submit a One-Time Artist Proposal or an Extended Artist Proposal to be considered for presentation. For more information, call 330-543-4909.
Expressive Therapy Center
Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center, AkronAkron Children's
215 W. Bowery Street
Akron, Ohio 44308
Map & directions
More about this location...
Hours
Monday : 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday : 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday : 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday : 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Friday : 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
We are closed on all major holidays.
Department: 330-543-4909
Do I need experience to participate in expressive therapies?
No experience is needed to participate and benefit from our therapies.
Does it cost me anything to receive expressive therapy services?
No. Art and music therapy are not billed through the hospital. We are extra support for you and your child at no cost, and we provide all supplies.
How do expressive therapies help?
Expressive therapies can help in so many ways. The music or art therapist will meet with you and get to know you and your child, assess their needs and create an individualized treatment plan to meet your specific goals. Whether it’s to help them feel more comfortable about being in the hospital environment or providing opportunities to express themselves and explore the arts, being in the hospital doesn’t have to be scary and stressful.
How do I request expressive therapy services?
When you are in the hospital, you can ask your nurse or your provider to put in a consult for expressive therapy. Once we receive that consultation request, we will reach out to you in person or via phone to assess your individual therapeutic needs.
Art Therapy Open Studio
Tap into your creativity in a relaxed, judgment-free space! A licensed art therapist will provide a variety of art supplies to choose from and explore. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m.
Music Therapy Open Studio
Make and explore music together with a licensed music therapist in a welcoming environment! Join in group music activities—no musical experience required. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Wednesdays 11 a.m.- Noon
Visiting Artist Program
Through a generous grant from the Ohio Arts Council, the Expressive Therapy Center welcomes artists of many types from the community to share their creative talent with our patients, families, and staff through workshops or group programming. If you would like to apply to be a visiting artist, please complete this application.
Visiting Artist Events
These special events showcase local visiting artists and may take place in the Expressive Therapy Center or the Family Resource Center, which is located on the third floor of the main hospital near the gift shop.
Music Therapy is an established health care profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of individuals. (American Music Therapy Association) Music therapy is an evidence-based practice that has been shown to improve various aspects of well-being including pain management, physical abilities, mood states, coping skills, self-esteem and self-awareness, cognition, speech and communication. Music therapists are board certified by the Certification Board for Music Therapists and licensed in the state of Ohio. Music therapists are highly trained in meeting the needs of individuals through musical interventions. Music interventions can include songwriting, composition, improvisation, instrument playing and exploration, music assisted relaxation and singing. Music interventions address the individual needs and goals of the patient and are based on the person’s musical preferences to give them choice and control.
For more information about music therapy:
American Music Therapy Association: www.musictherapy.org
Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association: www.glr-amta.org
Association for Ohio Music Therapists: www.aomt.org/index.html
Art Therapy
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as “a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active artmaking, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.” (AATA, 2022) At Akron Children’s, art therapists use art materials, familiar tools to children, to provide normalcy for self-expression in the hospital environment. These art materials are used to assist the child or family member in expressing themselves when words are not enough. Art therapy is used in a group setting or at the bedside throughout all areas of the hospital to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, promote insight, enhance social and communication skills and process a person’s emotions related to their medical situation. Art therapy provides a safe therapeutic space that encourages self-compassion, connection, healing and expression. Art therapists in the Expressive Therapy Center are nationally board-certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). They are dually credentialed as licensed professional art therapists and licensed professional counselors in the state of Ohio by the CSWMFT Board. A master’s degree in art therapy is required to practice art therapy.
For more information about art therapy:
American Art Therapy Association: www.ArtTherapy.org
Buckeye Art Therapy Association: www.buckeyearttherapy.org
Goals addressed by art and music therapy are individualized to each patient or family member to meet specific needs. These goals may include:
- Non-pharmacological pain management
- Stress management
- Learn coping skills
- Improve communication skills
- Improve socialization skills
- Enhance self-expression
- Reduce anxiety
- Improve mood
- Reduce isolation
- Learn relaxation techniques
- Psycho-emotional support
- Family support
- Improve self-esteem and strengthen identity
- Support physical rehabilitation
- Provide a sense of autonomy through choice and control
Volunteer Opportunities
The Expressive Therapy Department welcomes volunteers to assist with many tasks including cleaning and organizing art materials and musical instruments, assisting patients and family members during group programming, and many more tasks that allow our therapists to spend more time providing direct patient care. If you would like to become a volunteer, please fill out the application through Akron Children’s Volunteer Services Department.
Wish List
For safety and infection prevention, any materials donated for patient or family use must be brand new and in original packaging. Thank you for your support.
Art Therapy:
These items below were carefully selected by art therapists to provide appropriate art materials for children according to their developmental age and department need. All items are available to be purchased at BLICK, the art supply store that Akron Children’s art therapists use to buy materials. For safety and infection prevention, all donated items must be new and unused.
- Melissa & Doug Water Wow! – Animals, $5.34, Item #: 63997-1007
- Pacon Ucreate Mixed Media Pad, $6.48, Item #: 13892-1023
- Crayola Washable Paint Sticks - Set of 6, $7.74, Item #: 00208-1069
- Crayola Model Magic, Class Pack, Primary Colors, 1 oz, Pkg of 75, $36.70, Item #: 33214-1759
- Strathmore 300 Series Watercolor Pad - 9" x 12", $5.56, Item #:10148-1023
- Crayola Watercolor Pencils - Assorted Colors, Set of 24, $7.49, Item #: 20522-0009
- General's Kimberly Graphite Pencils Set - Art Pencil Kit, $4.50, Item #: 20421-1019
- Sharpie Brush Tip Permanent Markers, $2.77, Item #: 19900-2020
Laser Engraver for personalized art and memorial items:
Music Therapy:
- Artiphon Chorda Instrument and Controller | American Musical Supply
- ODD Ball – ODD.
- Suzuki Omnichord OM-108 | Sweetwater
- Kala KA-15S Soprano Ukulele | Guitar Center
- Fender CC-60S All-Mahogany Concert Acoustic Guitar Mahogany | Guitar Center
- PocketDrum 2 Max | Portable Electric Drums – AeroBand
Monetary Donations
If you feel inspired to give, your donation will be used to help sustain the meaningful work being done by the Emily Cooper Welty Expressive Therapy Center at Akron Children’s. Thank you for your support.
Music therapy and art therapy internship opportunities are available on a rolling basis. Please fill out and submit the appropriate application for your desired internship placement. Akron Children’s is an AMTA National Roster internship site. Art Therapy internships are available for master’s level students only. For more information, please contact the Expressive Therapy Department at (330)543-4909 or ExpressiveTherapyCtr@akronchildrens.org
