Institute for Therapy through the Arts

03/09/2026

On February 25, Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) was honored to support Strings of Life, a powerful world-premiere performance centered on su***de prevention, human connection, and hope.

Created by our dear friend Paul Hamilton, the evening featured moving performances by Paul, Jinty McTavish, Timothy Archbold, and Andrew Vogt. Paul, Jinty, and Tim have also been part of ITA’s Musical Bridges to Memory program, sharing the power of music with individuals living with dementia and their care partners for years.

Alongside our partners at AFSP Illinois Chapter, ITA was proud to help create a safe and supportive space for reflection, advocacy, and connection. It was a meaningful reminder that even in life’s heaviest moments, no one is meant to carry them alone.

We are grateful to have been part of an evening that used music to shine a light on mental health, su***de prevention, and the healing power of community.

03/09/2026

We’re excited to see continued research helping illuminate what so many have long known — music has the power to foster connection, strengthen trust, and support wellbeing.

At Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA), we believe in the profound impact of Creative Arts Therapy and in the importance of research that helps bring these practices into broader understanding and care. We’re glad to see work like this contributing to the growing conversation around music, health, and social connection.

Congratulations to all involved in this meaningful publication.

02/27/2026

Save the date — Find Your Light. ✨

Join us for the Institute for Therapy through the Arts (ITA) Annual Healing Arts Celebration on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

This fundraising celebration supports ITA’s mission, bringing together friends and champions of the arts to uplift healing, connection, and creativity. Enjoy a relaxed, curated dinner buffet and open bar as we gather to celebrate the impact you make possible.

More details coming soon!

02/16/2026

Trivia Night delivered. 🧠🍻✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us — your teamwork, laughter, and generosity made the room feel so full of community.

A big thank-you to Double Clutch Brewery for hosting, and Stewpendous Productions for keeping the game sharp, smooth, and seriously fun. 🙌

Congrats to our winning team — and cheers to every table that played along. 🏆

We can’t wait to do it again. Stay tuned for what’s next!

02/15/2026

It’s trivia day! 🎉
Join us for ITA Trivia Night today at 4 PM at Double Clutch Brewery. Online registration is still open, and walk-ins are welcome (you can register at the door, too).

Want a strategic edge?
Purchase a Hint for $25 (good for one question) and use it when your team needs a boost. Hints can also be purchased during the event.

Register + buy hints: https://itachicago.regfox.com/ita-trivia-night

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day from Institute for Therapy through the Arts! 💝
We gave candy hearts an ITA twist — playful, but grounded in what we believe: the arts can open doors to healing, connection, and hope.

Swipe through, pick your favorite, and pass it along to someone you love.

To learn more about our services and programs, visit our website.

02/14/2026

When the world feels heavy, creativity can be a steady place to set it down. Arts Midwest interviewed ITA’s Clinical Program Manager Cara Wellvang for this powerful piece on the role of the arts in healing and resilience. We’re grateful to Arts Midwest for lifting up this work.

Studies say we’ve got a powerful, artsy antidote full of resilience: The calm waits in our creativity.

02/06/2026

Ready for an afternoon of trivia + community at one of Evanston’s best spots? 🍻🧠
Join us at Double Clutch Brewing Company for ITA’s 3rd Annual Trivia Night—bring your team, enjoy a welcome drink, and help support healing through the arts.

📅 Sunday, Feb. 15 | 4–6 PM
👥 Teams of 4–6
💵 $40/person (includes a welcome drink)

All proceeds support access to vital mental health services and Creative Arts Therapy through ITA.
Register today: https://itachicago.regfox.com/ita-trivia-night

02/02/2026

Your team belongs at the table. 🧠✨
If you’ve been meaning to pull a crew together—friends, coworkers, neighbors, family—this is your sign.

Join Institute for Therapy through the Arts for our 3rd Annual Trivia Night at Double Clutch Brewing Company: a fun, feel-good afternoon that supports access to vital mental health and creative arts therapy services.

📅 Sunday, Feb 15 | 4–6 PM
👥 Teams of 4–6 (or register individually)
💡 Optional $25 hints available if your team wants a strategic edge

🎟️ Register your team today: https://itachicago.regfox.com/ita-trivia-night

01/30/2026

Please take a moment to watch this message from ITA’s CEO.

Because of this community, the impact of what’s been raised in our Fall Appeal is already at work—supporting students and families through healing and connection. With two days left, we’re so close to our $100,000 goal to sustain creative arts therapy and protect access to care as funding cuts threaten school-based supports.

Give by Jan. 31: itachicago.givingfuel.com/fallappeal2025
Pledge by Jan. 31: itachicago.regfox.com/2025-fall-appeal-pledge-form

01/26/2026

Final week. Final chance to finish strong.

Because of this community, ITA has raised $62,412 toward our $100,000 Fall Appeal goal. That support is already at work - helping people of all ages access Creative Arts Therapy in schools, community programs, healthcare settings, and beyond.

Now we're in the last stretch: $37,579 to go before the appeal closes. And in this final week, every gift is matched dollar for dolalr, doubling the impact of your generosity when it matters most.

Creative arts therapy offers something simple and rare: a way to proces what's heavy when worsd don't come easily through art, dance/movement, drama, and music.

If you've been meaning to give (or to make a pledge), this is the moment. Please help ITA reach the finish line and sustian the care our community counts on. 🧡

Give: itachicago.givingfuel.com/fallappeal2025
Or pledge: itachicago.regfox.com/2025-fall-appeal-pledge-form

01/26/2026

Sometimes change begins with something small.

When ITA Music Therapist Lizzy met Alex, she noticed a quiet interest in the guitar—and honored it. No pressure. Just a gentle invitation: “Would you like to try?”

By fall, everything began to change. Alex walked into the therapy space on his own. He participated. He even encouraged a classmate to join in. His mother was moved to tears—seeing her son not only present, but thriving.

That’s the power of creative arts therapy in schools: a safe way to feel, connect, and grow—especially when words aren’t enough.

✨ This January, your impact is doubled. Every gift is matched dollar for dollar.

Give: itachicago.givingfuel.com/fallappeal2025
Or pledge: itachicago.regfox.com/2025-fall-appeal-pledge-form

Thank you for helping students like Alex find steadiness, voice, and hope. ❤️