MANSFIELD — Expression isn’t limited to what you say or write.

Clients at the Richland County Community Alternative Center know this to be true. Just recently, they’ve begun engaging in art therapy, which enables the expression of thoughts and emotions that are difficult to put into words using basic art materials. 

Instead of searching tirelessly for the right words to say, they’re able to speak through their art. As a result, the clients and CAC as a whole have noticed a positive impact. 

Community Alternative Center

The Community Alternative Center, located at 597 Park Ave. E., launched about 14 years ago as a pay-to-stay jail alternative program.

“I always wanted to create more than just a jail alternative program, and eight years ago we actually became state-certified and Medicaid-certified as a drug and alcohol treatment facility,” said CAC Director Tom Trittschuh.

Most of the CAC’s clients are court-ordered from courts throughout Ohio. The 80-bed facility offers a myriad of programming, from motherhood and fatherhood classes, to drug and alcohol group sessions, work employment classes, GED classes, Bible study, and more.

Just recently, the CAC added art therapy to its offerings with the help of Jayne Stahlke, an instructor for the Mansfield City Schools’ Mid-Ohio Aspire Adult and Workforce Education GED Program. She retired from Mansfield Christian School after about 20 years as an art teacher.

“We ended up buying a bunch of art supplies, and she started volunteering some of her own time to come out here and do artwork with the clients,” Trittschuh said.

In collaboration with Luke Beekman of Mankind Murals, a mural project was born at the CAC.

Mural project 

Mankind Murals began its spotlight on arts education with a mural program at the Juvenile Detention Center called “Transformations.”

“As a place in the community where jail time can be served alongside a rehab program, implementing an interior mural program became a natural progression from working with teens to working with adults,” Beekman said.

The mural programs aimed to “transform from the inside out,” he said.

“We conducted surveys at the beginning of the programs to gain insight from the individuals of their inspirations, fears, and influences as it could also relate to art,” he said.

By the end of the mural project at the CAC, two works of art were created separately by a group of male clients and a group of female clients with assistance from Stahlke.

“The two 6-foot by three-foot designs at the CAC reflect the work done on the men’s and women’s floors of the rehab program,” Beekman said. “While many people surveyed said they were not artistic, many people were open to having the opportunity to create from within a space of hopeful recovery.”

Stahlke had a front row seat to all that occurred as a result of the project.

“What I saw happen as an outgrowth of the mural project was that confidence started being built,” she said.

Not only that, but barriers were broken down and clients felt as though they could put words to thoughts and feelings they previously struggled talking about.

“It gave them a voice and way to communicate, not just with words, but they began to communicate through their paintings,” she said.

Susan Lehr, clinical supervisor, noticed what a positive impact the project had on the clients.

“This project, because of that element of creativity, it helped them to do something they couldn’t fail at, they couldn’t hurt another human being — they simply were looking at what they wanted to express without having to talk much about it,” Lehr said.

The project not only affected the clients individually, but as a whole unit. Lehr said she noticed that clients turned in assignments on time, they had more respect for one another and they pulled together as a team.

“Following that project, I talked with Jayne and she now runs an art therapy program for us,” Trittschuh said.

Art as an outlet

Other projects have blossomed since the mural project, including one which was displayed at the Green Room Art Gallery in downtown Mansfield during The Shawkshank Redemption’s 25th anniversary celebration.

Constance, (whose first name has been omitted for confidentiality purposes), was among those who participated in the Shawshank art project.

“We took the movie and interpreted it in our way, what we saw or what we got out of it, and I think it came out beautifully,” she said.

Constance, a CAC client, said her journey at the CAC for the past 90 days has been worthwhile.

“I know I hit some bumps in the road, but I know when I leave here I’m going to be fine,” she said.

She can say that with confidence because just recently someone offered her drugs and she declined.

“It made me angry because they knew that I was in rehab and that I was done with that, but I was proud of myself that I told them ‘no,’” she said.

Constance said she used drugs for 30 years.

She appreciated her time at the CAC, saying, “It’s an environment where you can let down your guard and be able to let people in and talk about the things that you don’t want to talk about and feel safe to talk about them.”

The art classes, in particular, were beneficial, she said.

“I really enjoyed going to the art classes and art group,” she said. “I found that to be a great outlet and I’ve done a lot of painting since then and different kind of artwork.

“I plan on continuing with art when I leave.”