Creative Arts Therapies
What are Creative Arts Therapies?
Beck Center’s Creative Arts Therapies program, founded in 1994, is the first community-based program of its kind in Ohio. Each week, Beck Center therapists serve over 1,500 individuals on-site, and in over 30 organizations across the region. Services are provided to schools, social service agencies, medical facilities, retirement communities, and more. We are proud to provide Music and Art, as well as adapted programming in music, theater, and the visual arts. Financial aid and assistance resources are available by contacting Ed Gallagher. You can complete the forms here.
The Creative Arts Therapies department creates accessible art experiences with people across the lifespan, from early childhood to older adults, including those with disabilities, by enhancing their quality of life through the use of the arts.
For more information on how we can complement a therapeutic regimen for your or a loved one, please contact: Tracy Ammon, MT-BC at
tammon@beckcenter.org.
Video Credit: Purple-Films, LLC
Through the use of Creative Arts Therapies, children and adults with disabilities are encouraged to maximize their potential. Using art, dance/movement, theater and music as a therapeutic tool, individuals can address communication, academic, motor, emotional, and social skills as well as develop talents in the fine arts. Each participant receives individualized attention with personally designed goals tailored to meet his/her needs.
What are Creative Arts Therapies?
Music Therapy, as defined by the American Music Therapy Association:
The clinical & evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.
Art Therapy, as defined by the American Art Therapy Association:
Art Therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.
Creative Arts Therapies:
Led by a degreed and credentialed music or art therapist who attended an
accredited college program(s).
Who Can Benefit?
Individuals of all ages including those diagnosed with developmental disabilities (such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down Syndrome, ADHD, William’s Syndrome, etc); physical or neurological disabilities caused by stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, acute/chronic pain; and mental health needs (such as anxiety/stress, depression, memory loss and adults with Alzheimer’s/Dementia).
How does Music Therapy affect the brain? Try this interactive map
ABC News "Person of the Week" Celebrates Music Therapists!
Check out our feature in a recent issue of imagine.magazine - your resource for early childhood music therapy. See page 58 to learn about our collaboration with Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Where Are Services Used?
Beck Center provides individual therapy sessions in dedicated session rooms in the Creative Arts Building on campus as well as group therapy sessions in the community at various contractual agencies including Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities Adult Activity Center locations, Providence House, Lakewood City Schools (see the video below for details), The Goddard Schools, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beck Center therapists and early childhood arts specialists use their unique understanding of therapeutic uses of the arts to provide developmentally-appropriate classes to children and adults with and without disabilities throughout Northeast Ohio.
Third-party payments for services
Financial Assistance funded privately through Beck Center: Financial assistance is available for students up to 18 years of age. Financial assistance is available on a limited basis for group classes, private music lessons, or creative arts therapies sessions. To apply for financial assistance, call 216-424-7612, download the forms at https://www.beckcenter.org/s/2324-Financial-Assistance-forms-_.pdf , or please stop by Customer Service to pick up an application.
If a student is using alternative funding (3rd party, government, Medicaid, scholarship, etc.) the family or caseworker/representative must first reach out to Tracy Ammon, Associate Director of Creative Arts Therapies, at tammon@beckcenter.org with the classes or private lessons/sessions for which that the student is interested in using the third party funds. Beck Center will then reach out to the appropriate entity responsible for payment with an invoice/correct billing information, as they require this information in order to approve funds. Once Beck Center is given confirmation that the funding is available, the student will be registered for the requested classes. Any private pre-payment that requires a refund, will be charged a processing fee.
Both of the above processes CANNOT be expedited and may be lengthy.
Registration for any activity will not occur until funding has been confirmed.
What Are Therapist Qualifications?
Each of our therapists is credentialed according to the guidelines set forth by the corresponding professional's national association and certification agency. For more information please visit:
Private Sessions
The Creative Arts Therapies program offers music therapy, art therapy, as well as adapted music, art, and theater for individuals with disabilities. In addition, the staff leads a wide variety of early childhood programs for children without and with disabilities.
Through the use of the creative arts therapies, individuals with mental, physical, or developmental disabilities, are encouraged to maximize their potential. Using music, drama, and the visual arts as a therapeutic tools, individuals address cognitive, motor, emotional, communication, and social skills as well as talents in the fine arts. Each participant receives individualized treatment with personally designed goals tailored to meet their needs.
Beck Center for the Arts accepts family services funding for creative arts therapies programs through the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Greater Cleveland’s Positive Education Program. Financial assistance is also available to those who qualify. Please contact ,Tracy Ammon, MT-BC, Associate Director of Creative Arts Therapies at tammon@beckcenter.org.
Art Therapy and Music Therapy – Private Sessions
Individualized treatment plan
Sessions include the use of visual and auditory cues, adapted arts resources, personalized structure based on each individual’s ability and interests
Services for individuals are offered as weekly individual or small group sessions at the Beck Center.
Music therapists credentialed via Certification Board of Music Therapists (CBMT)
Art therapists credentialed via Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)
Approved provider through the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities family services program, the Positive Education Program and the Medicaid SELF waiver funding program.
Financial assistance available to those who qualify
Adapted Individual Lessons
Adapted lessons are designed for individuals who will thrive with specialized individual direction
Adapted music lessons are available on guitar, drums (percussion), piano, and ukulele. Please call to inquire availability for adapted lessons on an instrument not listed above.
Adapted art lessons available in painting, pottery, drawing, watercolor, and mixed media.
Adapted theater/performance and dance lessons also available.
Individual or group performance/showcase opportunities throughout the year are optional.
Sessions range from 30-60 minutes in length and may begin at any time during the year. Fees are pro-rated based upon time of enrollment. Schedule based on therapist and client availability.
An assessment/interview is required prior to registration. For further information or to schedule an assessment, contact Tracy Ammon, MT-BC at
tammon@beckcenter.org
Therapy Classes
Participant-driven classes are designed to promote social skills in a positive, creative, accessible environment.
Ages 7-11
Adapted Arts Sampler Class: Introduction to music, theater, and dance art forms through movement to music, instrument play, creative dramatics, theater games and more.
Thursdays 4:30-5:00 PM
Ages 12-17
Adapted Music: Participants engage in music experiences by listening and moving to music, playing instruments, and writing songs while exploring different instruments, genres.
Tuesdays 4:30-5:00 PMAdapted Dance: Students engage and explore in a safe and supported environment as they discover and develop movement, musicality and personal/social growth through dance.
Thursdays 5:15-5:45 PMAdapted Theater: This class promotes creativity, self confidence, social interaction and positive self esteem through singing, acting and dancing.
Mondays 4:30-5:15 PMAdapted Art: Students create original artwork while practicing social skills, developing new ways of self-expression, and learning through doing.
Thursdays 5:15-6:00 PM
Ages 18 and Up
Art Makers: Adapted multi-media visual arts class involving drawing, clay, sculpture, printmaking, painting, and collage-making activities. No previous experience needed!
Tuesdays 6:30-7:30 PMMusic Makers: Adapted instrumental and vocal ensemble experience with opportunities to learn songwriting, music reading, and music performance. No previous experience needed!
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 PMScene Makers: Individuals participate in short skits and engage in solo or small group performances, learning the basic aspects of the stage. No previous experience needed!
Mondays 5:30-6:30 PM
New participants please contact Tracy Ammon, MT-BC at
tammon@beckcenter.org to enroll.
The Community West Foundation is a supporter of Creative Arts Therapies programming at Beck Center for the Arts.
Contractual and Consultation Services
Our services are available to community-based agencies, schools, early childhood centers, adult activity centers, and health care facilities throughout Northeast Ohio. Services may include art therapy, music therapy, and adapted programs in dance and theater. Our staff members are prepared to work with all organizations to provide effective and meaningful programs.
These services are offered for an ongoing weekly basis or on a one-time basis for a special event, field trip or performance. Services can be started at any time throughout the year.
Presentations for community groups or professional organizations can be tailored to the interests and needs of each group/organization. In-services of any length may be designed to demonstrate the research, use, and effectiveness of creative arts therapies, early childhood arts programming, inclusion, or sensory-friendly programming. Our most recent local presentation partners have included “Utilizing the Arts for Health, Resilience, and Wellness” through music and theater with the Cleveland Clinic Arts & Medicine Institute, “Arts and Autism” at the Sandusky State Theater, and “Inclusion through the Arts” at Mandel Jewish Day School.
For more information or to schedule a meeting or introductory session, contact Tracy Ammon, MT-BC at
tammon@beckcenter.org.
Creative Arts Therapies Benefit ALL Ages
Beck @ Barton regularly airs on Channel 167 at The Barton Senior Center in Lakewood, Ohio. The program is created by Beck Center’s creative arts therapists and features our staff and community collaborators. We hope you find these arts experiences, designed for individuals aged 55 and above, enjoyable, enriching, and enhancing to your health and well-being. Please remember that these videos are not a substitute for individualized session with credentialed music therapists.
The Barton Senior Center is an inclusive and diverse non-profit organization providing programming and services to foster intellectual and physical well-being for people aged 55 and above serving Lakewood and surrounding neighborhoods.
Contact Tracy Ammon via email at tammon@beckcenter.org for more information about Creative Arts Therapies at Beck Center.
Thank you to Three Arches Foundation for their continued support.
Events at Beck Center
Razzle Dazzle
Since 2002, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD) and Beck Center for the Arts have collaborated to present Razzle Dazzle - an annual stage production featuring the talents of CCBDD consumers and volunteers. Each year, over 500 individuals gather to enjoy the stage production, take part in various musical performances and to see amazing art work created by those involved in Beck Center’s Creative Arts Therapies program.
In 2017, the dream of Razzle Dazzle visionary Sue Duffy was recognized as St. Edward High School students from the film and International Baccalaureate programs created a documentary about the entire Razzle experience. Led by instructor Nick Kuhar and filmed by talented students, they were able to capture the essence of the program from auditions through the final curtain call.
Sensory-Friendly Dance Education Performances
Sensory-friendly performances are staged for audience members with disabilities. Our sensory-friendly performances are welcoming and impactful for those with developmental disabilities, such as individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Productions provide an inclusive and safe environment and is a meaningful way to open yet another door to arts participation in our community. Quiet room and art activities are available for individuals who need time away from the performance. A social story, written in collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, is provided to participants to prepare them for this exciting event.
Sensory-Friendly Super Saturdays
During each Super Saturday we provide sensory friendly activities that offers a supportive and welcoming environment for children and families that need a quiet or "take a break space" in which to be creative.
Sensory-Friendly Arts Experiences
Be on the lookout for our next event for individuals with disabilities and their families to come and get creative through hands-on art, music, theater, and dance experiences. These events are led by board-certified music therapists, art therapists, and drama therapists, along with adapted program specialists from the Creative Arts Therapies department. A quiet room & other resources are available at all sensory-friendly events. Check out some photos from some previous events we have hosted!