October 21, 2025 • 21 mins
On today’s episode, return guest and art therapist Candace Ressler joins me for an inspiring conversation about an upcoming art show on November 3rd. We explore how art therapy helps people express their emotions, find healing, and start meaningful conversations about life’s challenges. Whether you’re an artist, a helper, or just curious about creative ways to support mental health, this episode is for you! The “Seeds of Hope” art show will occur at the Ashland Library on November 3rd from 6-8 pm. This is a free event! Contact the library at 419.289.8188 for more details and the Board at 419.281.3139 if you have any questions.
(Record Date: October 10, 2025)
(Record Date: October 10, 2025)
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome. You're listening to the Keeping Ashland Healthy podcast, a
podcast production of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of
Ashland County, Ohio. Thanks for joining us, and welcome back
to the Mental Health and Recovery Board studios here on
sixteen oh five County Road ten ninety five. In the
studio with me is a return guest. We don't have
a lot of return guests, only our favorite come back,
(00:27):
and Candace Wrestler is one of our favorites. Welcome back, Candace,
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I love to hear that I'm the safe well.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Candace is, you know, one of our local experts in
art therapy, and when last we were talking with her,
we were talking a little bit about art therapy generally,
but we were also talking about a big art event
that she was putting on and preparing for. And she's
come back because we have another big art event we
(00:54):
want to talk about and promote. But we also want
to talk again because that was I don't know, a
year or so ago, Candace, the last time you were on,
So I don't want to assume, you know, our audience
changes and a lot of the folks may not remember
or have never heard about art therapy, what it is,
you know, all the certifications and licenses that these folks
(01:16):
have that it's a real profession. And then maybe what's
offered in Ashland County locally now and then we'll certainly
talk about this event in November. So maybe kick it off,
tell the audience a little bit about yourself, you know,
some of the journey you've had educationally and license wise.
But then also you know what art therapy actually looks like,
(01:37):
what are you doing with folks over there?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, so my name is Candace.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor, a licensed professional
art therapist, and a board certified art therapist in the
state of Ohio. Since the last time we talked, I
added two of those things the board certification and then
new licensures now allowed me to be a licensed professional
art therapist.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Really fun, that was really exciting you you had brought
that to the listener's attention. It wasn't a thing when
we last spoke. It was in process of being a license.
So that again, hopefully audience you understand, you know, by
the state recognizing the important work that Cannice and her
peers do, it helps, I think assure the public that
this is a real thing. There's evidence and science behind
(02:22):
what you're doing. It's just not people that like fingerpaint.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes questions, So it's it's actually really cool and there's
some like backing up to it, so it's nice. I
got my degree at Ursuline College in pepper Pike.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
They have a dual.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Credit program for Masters for counseling and art therapy, so
that's where I went and I loved it there. That
was awesome, and from there it's kind of blossomed. I
actually my first job, well off of BAT.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Was apple Seeds, so for I can't remember.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
When I graduated twenty twenty one years ago, four years ago,
so I've been there since then and I've loved it
and have had the great opportunity work with Appleseed Jerry
Stacey who backed me and really helped me make this
art therapy program flourish.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, my understanding was there really wasn't an art therapy
program until you arrived Candas. And this is just a
shoutout because, as the listeners know, the board contractors, three
partner agencies apple Seed to CADAD and Catholic Charities and Appleseed.
One of the things I appreciate about all our directors,
but Jerry and Stacy over at Appleseed, they are not
(03:38):
afraid to embrace something maybe that they're not currently doing.
They're open to what emerging trends there are, and art
therapy was one of those things. So I do shout
out to them because they saw in you somebody with
skills and passion, not something they were necessarily doing, but
they said, you know, let's try this. Let's give Candas
a chance with that, and it's grown and I think.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
They definitely had a gamble and I hope to think
that they are like paying off on it.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
But I really look, like I said, I really love
and appreciate all the support and from my supervisor Jeremy.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
But yeah, I am the only art therapist in Ashland
as of I know. I know there's Wooster, there's a
lot of places there, or it's kind of growing.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Like I said, Ursuline is where I graduated, so Cleveland
is kind of pouring out art therapist, which is great,
and then they kind of are now becoming more prevalent,
which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
But I'm hoping to get some more into Ashland. I
know I said that last.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Year, but I'm still so what your what your caseload
look like? I mean, you're working with adulting kids.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, so I work with I'm a youth counselor, but
I do I asked Stacy and Jerry. I like the variety,
so I'm working with anyone.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
My oldest is like in.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Their sixties, my lasts is in their maybe my youngest
has been for wow.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So okay, quite the range. Yes, But when we last spoke,
I wasn't sure your case, lad Off, it was totally full,
but now it sounds like you're pretty busy.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yes, so I did just get back from a maternity least,
so I'm growing.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
But what I was coming back, I had a couple
of people who were specifically waiting for art therapy to
come back in so I was really excited about that,
which I know last time we talked, you were like,
that's going to be happening, and then it kind of
happened after that, so it.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Was cool to see and again for the audience. So
the idea is the art is the medium rather than
as much the talk being the exclusive medium to help
somebody with whatever their challenges are. You still do talk, yes,
but you're also using this art medium and if you
could maybe unpack those different mediums that might be helpful
for folks.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, so art therapy is a tool to use, and
there is a lot of science in how different types
of mediums can elicit different responses.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
So it's really cool.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And one of my favorite things about art therapy is
like the symbolism.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
In it and the meaning making.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
So they create something and they find meaning or they're
creating something to show something, and it allows the client
to not have to necessarily.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Depend on that vocal. They can create.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Something and then we can kind of sus it out
and process it and come to it at the time
that need to come to it, because one of the
biggest things is meeting the client where they're.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
That's right, that's right. And I think you use the
word or the phrase sus it out, which you're far
too young.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
To know that I have to be lingo.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
And one of the things you know that struck me
is again, this is a new and emerging thing. That
is the license here gives it again that credibility, if
you will. But what I just I have flashbacks when
I first knew that you were doing this to my
for the the audience. Bear with me. When I was
(07:02):
very very young, which is a long time ago, I
took a class in my graduate studies called projective measures,
and this was people think of the ink blots, you know,
and there you ask a young person to draw a
house or a tree and a person. You know. So
these were projective measures because they basically you ask the person,
(07:26):
you know, what do you see here or what does
this mean? Or you ask the person to draw these things.
But it's just what you said, camus it. It gets
the person's perspective. It's like the quickest way that I
found as a therapist to not make assumptions about what's
going on with the person, but for the person to
tell me, you know, because when I would show an
(07:48):
ink blot or what they call the thematic apperception test,
that's a fancy word for basically a picture and you say, well,
what do you think this is? And they and then
you say, oh, okay, well tell me how you see
that or what you're seeing and what is this? And
and then boom the person is the person? Right, You're
getting the person, not you know, some filtered weird You're
(08:10):
getting the person. And when a young person would draw
me a house, treeing a person and I would tell
ask them to describe it to me. Boy, you learn
a lot about the person in their own words right.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Away, and can under the like they don't even hear
what they're saying, and you're like.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
How come dad's way over here and the rest of
the families over here because Daddy's gone a lot?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Very similar for play therapy. I don't necessarily do play therapy.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Right, We've got some folks that do that in the county.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yes, but it is very similar. It's like almost that
your unconscious is coming through to share these Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
If I would have continued in direct service, I would
have done a lot more projective tests because it was
a little subtle and people didn't realize because unconscious, you know,
it's it's hidden, right, we don't know, we're not always aware,
and those kinds of measures. So I don't know how
much of that is going on when you're doing your
work with folks. But I have to imagine for some
people they might I'm using air quotes audience, they might
(09:10):
say more than they realize they're saying, and then you
might be able to capitalize on that when you're doing
your work.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yes, I will say that that happens quite a lot,
and I love that so like and I think I
said this the last podcast, but all repeat. I usually
tend to try to get clients to come in and
feel comfortable at first with art, because they come in
with a lot of preconceived ideas or fears or perfectionistic tendencies,
(09:35):
and so I'm trying to get them out of that
mindset to have kind of that freedom.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
And so I'll do like more structured tasks like.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Oh, we'll do like these a couple assessments, and then
as they get comfortable, they do more free association drawings
and like prompts that are related to what's going on
in their life, and then they create and it's really
cool and exactly that.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
The unconscious comes through.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
And I'll just like kind of poke at the questions,
asking a little like I said, sus it out, and
they'll like literally be like, oh, okay, I didn't realize
I even.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah, And do you allow them to use the medium
that they're most comfortable with.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah. So I tend to try to, like I said.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Keep a little structured at first, just so that they're
not like going out in the left field. But there
is a lot of science too. In the evidence raced.
Oh my goodness, there is the continuum goodness. I can't
remember what it's called a good but it is a
continuum where it has like very structured tasks and then
very loose tasks, and where the structured tasks are really
(10:36):
opening up your cognitive state, and the looser tasks like
the water coloring and the painting, it's very it opens
up more emotional. So it's really interesting too to see
the difference between. So if I have a client that's
really in their brain and I need to get or
elicit some more emotion, I'll to the medium. I'm trying
to lean into the mediums that are going to get
(10:56):
their feelings to be Yeah, and then vice versa.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I have a crying client and they cannot get it together.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I will do maybe more structured tasks so that they
can get their cognitive state back online and they can work.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Through some of the things that are making them so emotional.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Yeah. Well, I just I can't. I told you the
last time, and I'm going to say it again because
I want the audience to hear it. This is this
is quite an opportunity if you or someone you care
about you know, is struggling and you know that this person,
you know, has a tendency towards art. To know that
we've got somebody in the county that is an expert,
(11:35):
license credentialed that can use I mean again, if their
medium is chainsaws and tree stumps, maybe she can't use
that particular medium, but if they're an artist at all,
she can work within that. And I think for a
lot of folks that is that's helpful to know because
not everybody's a talker. As you know, we've got the
equine program through Apple Suite as well. Yes, and not everybody,
(12:00):
you know, the talk therapy for a lot of reasons
doesn't work. So being out with the horses, they're outside,
just being around those those animals, which are very unique animals,
can bring about the conversations or the connection that's needed
for that individual.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
So again, it's kind of like almost sneaky in that,
like we we were like, oh, how can these horses
tell us what is going on?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
And she just does a.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Really great job at like like no, they're telling me
something different. And so and the express those expressive continuum,
expressive therapy continuum is.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
What it's called expressive therapy continuum.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah, and it's so it's the kind of scale of
media that you can use.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And what it said, so sorry for more of the
cognitive to the emotional.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, so that's what that was. I just wanted to.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Know because this audience knows this. This counselors social workers.
We we we create all these fancy terms for things.
This is what we do, yeah, etc.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And in my brain totally forgot what it's for, but I.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Know it well. That brings us to There is an
opportunity coming up November third, six to eight at our
Ashton County Library there on Claremont for what you call
the Seeds of Hope Art Show. And this is the
second year I was at the first one. I'm hoping
I can be here. You know, a lot of people
(13:22):
don't know this, but regular listeners we know my bedtimes
right around six o'clock. But I'm going to try really
hard to be there for the opening of this. But
tell us about this Seeds of Hope Art Show November
three at the library.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, I'm going to second that my bedtime has moved
up very.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
High quickly since I had two kiddos. But I agree,
So it's going to be maybe a rough night for
both of us. Yeah, but seeds of hope.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I'm so excited about this because the last year we
did it at the Ashland University, which was the first year,
it was so cool, weird, Yeah, forty pieces and then we.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Coupled it with our therapist artwork too, so it was
really cool.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
The room was jam pack.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
It was really cool. So this year might be a
little different.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Like I said, I just had my second child, so
I'm coming back from fraternity leave, but I am planning
on going to the Ashland Library and where community we're
coupling and collaborating with them. Funny enough, in twenty twenty four,
when I was trying to figure out where I would
like the second year to happen at because I wanted
(14:27):
it to be in different community ventures, I called them
asked and they were like, oh, that sounds like a
really cool idea, let's check it out. And funny enough, also,
their theme for this year of twenty twenty five was
art and creativity, so it was meant to be.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
It was.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
It was a really cool, you know, God moment of like, oh,
this is where it's supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
So this year might be a little different.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
And a little smaller, but it is going to be
still really cool in that art is going to be
shared from clients so that they then be empowered to
express some of their journey or what they've created and
to feel empowered by that.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So maybe some of the artists will be there, maybe
not for every piece, but some of them might be there.
And then there might even I think you did this
last time, but some kind of a little bit of
a context or a little story that maybe goes with
the piece of folks have somewhat of an idea what
they're working on.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Yeah, So the process that I'm doing right now at
Appleseed is any client that they want to share their art,
I have a submission form and they just write a
couple of sentences about what the art's about so that
the viewer can have some insight. And I think what
I said earlier too is it's really cool, and I've
had this conversation with clients is that you're going to
share part of yourself which is so impressive and should be.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Celebrated and private and personalvel for a lot of folks too.
And I know that can be scary if I put
kind of myself out there and then the public season
what will they think?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yes, I think that that is a very normal thing.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
And I walk with my clients through that like, hey,
this might be really scary, but also like trust me,
it'll be a really interesting process to see. And I've
found it's been really beneficial because the audience takes it
and sees maybe the thing that they see and they
connect with it. And they're sit talking with whoever, and
the clients are right there you can see it and
(16:20):
they're like, oh, that's that's really cool.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
That they are absorbing my artwork in this way.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
And then also I think it's really cool because the
viewer also maybe see something completely different that connects with them.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That's our journey. So I think that that's really interesting
way that art can kind of speak I'm with your
sister without speaking, that's right.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I think we talk about these things two first, sometimes
we call it where both parties benefit, where the person
that did the art benefits, but then the participant, the
person that comes to the show, they benefit too. Candaice
through that experience and it's a win for everybody and
again a plug for the library. I have found them
to be wonderful partners. We've partnered with them on several things,
(17:02):
so I am not surprised at all that they're working
with you, and I.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Just been great and their marketing team, like they made
all the posters and they made little bookmarks, and I'm
really excited to like be pushing it because it's going
to be happening very very soon November. Third one thing
that I do want to mention too is so six
to seven is when they're still open, okay, and then
they close at seven, and we're going to do like
(17:25):
short speeches at that point because it's just going to
be like the open reception and they're staying up open
later for our event, just to kind of make sure
like people can come in and see very much the artwork.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Do folks have the register for.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
This, No, they do. It's free to the community.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
It's no cash come and I'm hoping kind of some
people just stumble upon it, like, oh, I'm going.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
To the library, Oh look at all this art. Look
how cool.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
And then one of the other things is it is
my plan is that a lot of the art's going
to stay there for the month of November. So if
you do miss reception night, maybe you'll pop into the.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Library and get a book and also get to see.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Some really cool Now that's that's important. So folks can't
make it they have a conflict for some reason, they
can still go back throughout the month to see some
of the art that is wonderful. Well, I mean, I'm excited.
This is the second year, and quite frankly, audience, I
hope Candice continues to do this, but a lot of
it depends on the community and their willingness to continue
to embrace this. I mean, based on what happened last
(18:21):
year at Coburn, I thought that was wonderful, So I
anticipate we'll have a good turn out again, Candae.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I'm helping, I'm hoping, and I'm prepared for it to
be a little smaller just because of the last minute
of some.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Of the stuff. But I think it's so I think
it's in general, it's.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
So cool to get to see clients really feel empowered
and share and be willing to be so vulnerable.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Because like I said, it's a risk, and so it's it's.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Really cool for them to trust the process.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
So well, let me let me wrap it up for
the audience. This is the season. Hope art show. It's
the second year. It's on Monday, November third, six to
eight o'clock at the Ashland Library there on Claremont And
in the studio with me is Candice Wrestler. She is
licensed and certified as an art therapist. She is a pro.
She works at apple Seed. She can see you if
(19:13):
you are so inclined, and she will use an art
medium that is comfortable to you as long as I
can do that within the confines of apple Seed. But
that you know that, I just thought about this. I
don't know if you do any work outside of apple
Seed if the client funny enough.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
So I actually I do some community things here and there.
And when I connected with them, one of the things was, Hey,
you're doing this big thing for me. Is there anything
I can do for you? And they had summer programs
where they had me come in. Well one of the
times I scheduled too, but I had a baby, so
but I had a co worker go in my place.
But I came in and I did community art.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
With the with I think they do like weekly.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Events and so I came in and I did like
some art therapy, a process like our therapy prompt and
then they created it was really cool, and then I
heard that the second one went, well.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah, well, you know all the different organizations groups, particularly
our seniors around town, our Golden centers, I know, you know,
we had our music therapist. She she's gone around to
a lot of those places. I can see them embracing that.
But times of the I get it too. You only
have so much time in the day.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
I did do a small collaboration like maybe maybe a
year and a half ago with the elderly at one
of those buildings. I can't remember the name of it
at this moment, but I'm hoping to work.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I really I love doing it.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
I love going out into the community and doing like
events like this and then also like the Croc Center
and other things, so like I like kind of dipping
my toe in a bunch of different things.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Well, Cannis, I think you're a wonderful ambassador for our therapy.
So everybody should come out and meet Cannis. She's going
to be there, but like me, she might be a
little tired because it's past our bedtime. Can it's anything
else you want to tell the audience before we wrap up?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Now, thank you, hope you to see you there and
see you.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Support Absolutely November third, six to eight at the Ashland
Library for the Seeds of Hope Art Show, Year two.
Thank you, Candace, Thank you for listening to another episode
of the Keeping Ashland Healthy podcast. The podcast is a
production of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County, Ohio.
You can reach the Board by calling four one nine
two eight one three one three nine. Please remember that
(21:31):
the Board funds a local twenty four to seven crisis
line through Applesea Community Mental Health Center. It can be
reached by calling four one nine two eight nine six
one one one. That's four one nine two eight nine
six one one one. Until next time. Please join us
in keeping Ashland Healthy.
Welcome. You're listening to the Keeping Ashland Healthy podcast, a
podcast production of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of
Ashland County, Ohio. Thanks for joining us, and welcome back
to the Mental Health and Recovery Board studios here on
sixteen oh five County Road ten ninety five. In the
studio with me is a return guest. We don't have
a lot of return guests, only our favorite come back,
(00:27):
and Candace Wrestler is one of our favorites. Welcome back, Candace,
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I love to hear that I'm the safe well.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Candace is, you know, one of our local experts in
art therapy, and when last we were talking with her,
we were talking a little bit about art therapy generally,
but we were also talking about a big art event
that she was putting on and preparing for. And she's
come back because we have another big art event we
(00:54):
want to talk about and promote. But we also want
to talk again because that was I don't know, a
year or so ago, Candace, the last time you were on,
So I don't want to assume, you know, our audience
changes and a lot of the folks may not remember
or have never heard about art therapy, what it is,
you know, all the certifications and licenses that these folks
(01:16):
have that it's a real profession. And then maybe what's
offered in Ashland County locally now and then we'll certainly
talk about this event in November. So maybe kick it off,
tell the audience a little bit about yourself, you know,
some of the journey you've had educationally and license wise.
But then also you know what art therapy actually looks like,
(01:37):
what are you doing with folks over there?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, so my name is Candace.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor, a licensed professional
art therapist, and a board certified art therapist in the
state of Ohio. Since the last time we talked, I
added two of those things the board certification and then
new licensures now allowed me to be a licensed professional
art therapist.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Really fun, that was really exciting you you had brought
that to the listener's attention. It wasn't a thing when
we last spoke. It was in process of being a license.
So that again, hopefully audience you understand, you know, by
the state recognizing the important work that Cannice and her
peers do, it helps, I think assure the public that
this is a real thing. There's evidence and science behind
(02:22):
what you're doing. It's just not people that like fingerpaint.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yes questions, So it's it's actually really cool and there's
some like backing up to it, so it's nice. I
got my degree at Ursuline College in pepper Pike.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
They have a dual.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Credit program for Masters for counseling and art therapy, so
that's where I went and I loved it there. That
was awesome, and from there it's kind of blossomed. I
actually my first job, well off of BAT.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Was apple Seeds, so for I can't remember.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
When I graduated twenty twenty one years ago, four years ago,
so I've been there since then and I've loved it
and have had the great opportunity work with Appleseed Jerry
Stacey who backed me and really helped me make this
art therapy program flourish.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Yeah, my understanding was there really wasn't an art therapy
program until you arrived Candas. And this is just a
shoutout because, as the listeners know, the board contractors, three
partner agencies apple Seed to CADAD and Catholic Charities and Appleseed.
One of the things I appreciate about all our directors,
but Jerry and Stacy over at Appleseed, they are not
(03:38):
afraid to embrace something maybe that they're not currently doing.
They're open to what emerging trends there are, and art
therapy was one of those things. So I do shout
out to them because they saw in you somebody with
skills and passion, not something they were necessarily doing, but
they said, you know, let's try this. Let's give Candas
a chance with that, and it's grown and I think.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
They definitely had a gamble and I hope to think
that they are like paying off on it.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
But I really look, like I said, I really love
and appreciate all the support and from my supervisor Jeremy.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
But yeah, I am the only art therapist in Ashland
as of I know. I know there's Wooster, there's a
lot of places there, or it's kind of growing.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Like I said, Ursuline is where I graduated, so Cleveland
is kind of pouring out art therapist, which is great,
and then they kind of are now becoming more prevalent,
which is awesome.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
But I'm hoping to get some more into Ashland. I
know I said that last.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Year, but I'm still so what your what your caseload
look like? I mean, you're working with adulting kids.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, so I work with I'm a youth counselor, but
I do I asked Stacy and Jerry. I like the variety,
so I'm working with anyone.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
My oldest is like in.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
Their sixties, my lasts is in their maybe my youngest
has been for wow.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
So okay, quite the range. Yes, But when we last spoke,
I wasn't sure your case, lad Off, it was totally full,
but now it sounds like you're pretty busy.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yes, so I did just get back from a maternity least,
so I'm growing.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
But what I was coming back, I had a couple
of people who were specifically waiting for art therapy to
come back in so I was really excited about that,
which I know last time we talked, you were like,
that's going to be happening, and then it kind of
happened after that, so it.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
Was cool to see and again for the audience. So
the idea is the art is the medium rather than
as much the talk being the exclusive medium to help
somebody with whatever their challenges are. You still do talk, yes,
but you're also using this art medium and if you
could maybe unpack those different mediums that might be helpful
for folks.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, so art therapy is a tool to use, and
there is a lot of science in how different types
of mediums can elicit different responses.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
So it's really cool.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And one of my favorite things about art therapy is
like the symbolism.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
In it and the meaning making.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
So they create something and they find meaning or they're
creating something to show something, and it allows the client
to not have to necessarily.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Depend on that vocal. They can create.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Something and then we can kind of sus it out
and process it and come to it at the time
that need to come to it, because one of the
biggest things is meeting the client where they're.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
That's right, that's right. And I think you use the
word or the phrase sus it out, which you're far
too young.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
To know that I have to be lingo.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
And one of the things you know that struck me
is again, this is a new and emerging thing. That
is the license here gives it again that credibility, if
you will. But what I just I have flashbacks when
I first knew that you were doing this to my
for the the audience. Bear with me. When I was
(07:02):
very very young, which is a long time ago, I
took a class in my graduate studies called projective measures,
and this was people think of the ink blots, you know,
and there you ask a young person to draw a
house or a tree and a person. You know. So
these were projective measures because they basically you ask the person,
(07:26):
you know, what do you see here or what does
this mean? Or you ask the person to draw these things.
But it's just what you said, camus it. It gets
the person's perspective. It's like the quickest way that I
found as a therapist to not make assumptions about what's
going on with the person, but for the person to
tell me, you know, because when I would show an
(07:48):
ink blot or what they call the thematic apperception test,
that's a fancy word for basically a picture and you say, well,
what do you think this is? And they and then
you say, oh, okay, well tell me how you see
that or what you're seeing and what is this? And
and then boom the person is the person? Right, You're
getting the person, not you know, some filtered weird You're
(08:10):
getting the person. And when a young person would draw
me a house, treeing a person and I would tell
ask them to describe it to me. Boy, you learn
a lot about the person in their own words right.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
Away, and can under the like they don't even hear
what they're saying, and you're like.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
How come dad's way over here and the rest of
the families over here because Daddy's gone a lot?
Speaker 3 (08:32):
Right.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Very similar for play therapy. I don't necessarily do play therapy.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Right, We've got some folks that do that in the county.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
Yes, but it is very similar. It's like almost that
your unconscious is coming through to share these Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
If I would have continued in direct service, I would
have done a lot more projective tests because it was
a little subtle and people didn't realize because unconscious, you know,
it's it's hidden, right, we don't know, we're not always aware,
and those kinds of measures. So I don't know how
much of that is going on when you're doing your
work with folks. But I have to imagine for some
people they might I'm using air quotes audience, they might
(09:10):
say more than they realize they're saying, and then you
might be able to capitalize on that when you're doing
your work.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
Yes, I will say that that happens quite a lot,
and I love that so like and I think I
said this the last podcast, but all repeat. I usually
tend to try to get clients to come in and
feel comfortable at first with art, because they come in
with a lot of preconceived ideas or fears or perfectionistic tendencies,
(09:35):
and so I'm trying to get them out of that
mindset to have kind of that freedom.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
And so I'll do like more structured tasks like.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
Oh, we'll do like these a couple assessments, and then
as they get comfortable, they do more free association drawings
and like prompts that are related to what's going on
in their life, and then they create and it's really
cool and exactly that.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
The unconscious comes through.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
And I'll just like kind of poke at the questions,
asking a little like I said, sus it out, and
they'll like literally be like, oh, okay, I didn't realize
I even.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Yeah, And do you allow them to use the medium
that they're most comfortable with.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
Yeah. So I tend to try to, like I said.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Keep a little structured at first, just so that they're
not like going out in the left field. But there
is a lot of science too. In the evidence raced.
Oh my goodness, there is the continuum goodness. I can't
remember what it's called a good but it is a
continuum where it has like very structured tasks and then
very loose tasks, and where the structured tasks are really
(10:36):
opening up your cognitive state, and the looser tasks like
the water coloring and the painting, it's very it opens
up more emotional. So it's really interesting too to see
the difference between. So if I have a client that's
really in their brain and I need to get or
elicit some more emotion, I'll to the medium. I'm trying
to lean into the mediums that are going to get
(10:56):
their feelings to be Yeah, and then vice versa.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I have a crying client and they cannot get it together.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I will do maybe more structured tasks so that they
can get their cognitive state back online and they can work.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Through some of the things that are making them so emotional.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Yeah. Well, I just I can't. I told you the
last time, and I'm going to say it again because
I want the audience to hear it. This is this
is quite an opportunity if you or someone you care
about you know, is struggling and you know that this person,
you know, has a tendency towards art. To know that
we've got somebody in the county that is an expert,
(11:35):
license credentialed that can use I mean again, if their
medium is chainsaws and tree stumps, maybe she can't use
that particular medium, but if they're an artist at all,
she can work within that. And I think for a
lot of folks that is that's helpful to know because
not everybody's a talker. As you know, we've got the
equine program through Apple Suite as well. Yes, and not everybody,
(12:00):
you know, the talk therapy for a lot of reasons
doesn't work. So being out with the horses, they're outside,
just being around those those animals, which are very unique animals,
can bring about the conversations or the connection that's needed
for that individual.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
So again, it's kind of like almost sneaky in that,
like we we were like, oh, how can these horses
tell us what is going on?
Speaker 2 (12:23):
And she just does a.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Really great job at like like no, they're telling me
something different. And so and the express those expressive continuum,
expressive therapy continuum is.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
What it's called expressive therapy continuum.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Yeah, and it's so it's the kind of scale of
media that you can use.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
And what it said, so sorry for more of the
cognitive to the emotional.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, so that's what that was. I just wanted to.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Know because this audience knows this. This counselors social workers.
We we we create all these fancy terms for things.
This is what we do, yeah, etc.
Speaker 2 (12:59):
And in my brain totally forgot what it's for, but I.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Know it well. That brings us to There is an
opportunity coming up November third, six to eight at our
Ashton County Library there on Claremont for what you call
the Seeds of Hope Art Show. And this is the
second year I was at the first one. I'm hoping
I can be here. You know, a lot of people
(13:22):
don't know this, but regular listeners we know my bedtimes
right around six o'clock. But I'm going to try really
hard to be there for the opening of this. But
tell us about this Seeds of Hope Art Show November
three at the library.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, I'm going to second that my bedtime has moved
up very.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
High quickly since I had two kiddos. But I agree,
So it's going to be maybe a rough night for
both of us. Yeah, but seeds of hope.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
I'm so excited about this because the last year we
did it at the Ashland University, which was the first year,
it was so cool, weird, Yeah, forty pieces and then we.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Coupled it with our therapist artwork too, so it was
really cool.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
The room was jam pack.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
It was really cool. So this year might be a
little different.
Speaker 3 (14:07):
Like I said, I just had my second child, so
I'm coming back from fraternity leave, but I am planning
on going to the Ashland Library and where community we're
coupling and collaborating with them. Funny enough, in twenty twenty four,
when I was trying to figure out where I would
like the second year to happen at because I wanted
(14:27):
it to be in different community ventures, I called them
asked and they were like, oh, that sounds like a
really cool idea, let's check it out. And funny enough, also,
their theme for this year of twenty twenty five was
art and creativity, so it was meant to be.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
It was.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
It was a really cool, you know, God moment of like, oh,
this is where it's supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
So this year might be a little different.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
And a little smaller, but it is going to be
still really cool in that art is going to be
shared from clients so that they then be empowered to
express some of their journey or what they've created and
to feel empowered by that.
Speaker 1 (15:07):
So maybe some of the artists will be there, maybe
not for every piece, but some of them might be there.
And then there might even I think you did this
last time, but some kind of a little bit of
a context or a little story that maybe goes with
the piece of folks have somewhat of an idea what
they're working on.
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Yeah, So the process that I'm doing right now at
Appleseed is any client that they want to share their art,
I have a submission form and they just write a
couple of sentences about what the art's about so that
the viewer can have some insight. And I think what
I said earlier too is it's really cool, and I've
had this conversation with clients is that you're going to
share part of yourself which is so impressive and should be.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
Celebrated and private and personalvel for a lot of folks too.
And I know that can be scary if I put
kind of myself out there and then the public season
what will they think?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yes, I think that that is a very normal thing.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
And I walk with my clients through that like, hey,
this might be really scary, but also like trust me,
it'll be a really interesting process to see. And I've
found it's been really beneficial because the audience takes it
and sees maybe the thing that they see and they
connect with it. And they're sit talking with whoever, and
the clients are right there you can see it and
(16:20):
they're like, oh, that's that's really cool.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
That they are absorbing my artwork in this way.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
And then also I think it's really cool because the
viewer also maybe see something completely different that connects with them.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
That's our journey. So I think that that's really interesting
way that art can kind of speak I'm with your
sister without speaking, that's right.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
I think we talk about these things two first, sometimes
we call it where both parties benefit, where the person
that did the art benefits, but then the participant, the
person that comes to the show, they benefit too. Candaice
through that experience and it's a win for everybody and
again a plug for the library. I have found them
to be wonderful partners. We've partnered with them on several things,
(17:02):
so I am not surprised at all that they're working
with you, and I.
Speaker 3 (17:05):
Just been great and their marketing team, like they made
all the posters and they made little bookmarks, and I'm
really excited to like be pushing it because it's going
to be happening very very soon November. Third one thing
that I do want to mention too is so six
to seven is when they're still open, okay, and then
they close at seven, and we're going to do like
(17:25):
short speeches at that point because it's just going to
be like the open reception and they're staying up open
later for our event, just to kind of make sure
like people can come in and see very much the artwork.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Do folks have the register for.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
This, No, they do. It's free to the community.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
It's no cash come and I'm hoping kind of some
people just stumble upon it, like, oh, I'm going.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
To the library, Oh look at all this art. Look
how cool.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
And then one of the other things is it is
my plan is that a lot of the art's going
to stay there for the month of November. So if
you do miss reception night, maybe you'll pop into the.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Library and get a book and also get to see.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Some really cool Now that's that's important. So folks can't
make it they have a conflict for some reason, they
can still go back throughout the month to see some
of the art that is wonderful. Well, I mean, I'm excited.
This is the second year, and quite frankly, audience, I
hope Candice continues to do this, but a lot of
it depends on the community and their willingness to continue
to embrace this. I mean, based on what happened last
(18:21):
year at Coburn, I thought that was wonderful, So I
anticipate we'll have a good turn out again, Candae.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
I'm helping, I'm hoping, and I'm prepared for it to
be a little smaller just because of the last minute
of some.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Of the stuff. But I think it's so I think
it's in general, it's.
Speaker 3 (18:35):
So cool to get to see clients really feel empowered
and share and be willing to be so vulnerable.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Because like I said, it's a risk, and so it's it's.
Speaker 3 (18:46):
Really cool for them to trust the process.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
So well, let me let me wrap it up for
the audience. This is the season. Hope art show. It's
the second year. It's on Monday, November third, six to
eight o'clock at the Ashland Library there on Claremont And
in the studio with me is Candice Wrestler. She is
licensed and certified as an art therapist. She is a pro.
She works at apple Seed. She can see you if
(19:13):
you are so inclined, and she will use an art
medium that is comfortable to you as long as I
can do that within the confines of apple Seed. But
that you know that, I just thought about this. I
don't know if you do any work outside of apple
Seed if the client funny enough.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
So I actually I do some community things here and there.
And when I connected with them, one of the things was, Hey,
you're doing this big thing for me. Is there anything
I can do for you? And they had summer programs
where they had me come in. Well one of the
times I scheduled too, but I had a baby, so
but I had a co worker go in my place.
But I came in and I did community art.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
With the with I think they do like weekly.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
Events and so I came in and I did like
some art therapy, a process like our therapy prompt and
then they created it was really cool, and then I
heard that the second one went, well.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Yeah, well, you know all the different organizations groups, particularly
our seniors around town, our Golden centers, I know, you know,
we had our music therapist. She she's gone around to
a lot of those places. I can see them embracing that.
But times of the I get it too. You only
have so much time in the day.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
I did do a small collaboration like maybe maybe a
year and a half ago with the elderly at one
of those buildings. I can't remember the name of it
at this moment, but I'm hoping to work.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
I really I love doing it.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
I love going out into the community and doing like
events like this and then also like the Croc Center
and other things, so like I like kind of dipping
my toe in a bunch of different things.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Well, Cannis, I think you're a wonderful ambassador for our therapy.
So everybody should come out and meet Cannis. She's going
to be there, but like me, she might be a
little tired because it's past our bedtime. Can it's anything
else you want to tell the audience before we wrap up?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Now, thank you, hope you to see you there and
see you.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Support Absolutely November third, six to eight at the Ashland
Library for the Seeds of Hope Art Show, Year two.
Thank you, Candace, Thank you for listening to another episode
of the Keeping Ashland Healthy podcast. The podcast is a
production of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County, Ohio.
You can reach the Board by calling four one nine
two eight one three one three nine. Please remember that
(21:31):
the Board funds a local twenty four to seven crisis
line through Applesea Community Mental Health Center. It can be
reached by calling four one nine two eight nine six
one one one. That's four one nine two eight nine
six one one one. Until next time. Please join us
in keeping Ashland Healthy.
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