Traditional "talk therapy" often faces significant limitations when addressing deep-seated trauma or complex emotional processing. Expressive HEARTS, a program developed within OhioGuidestone, addresses these clinical gaps by operating on the fundamental belief that healing is not one-size-fits-all and that words alone are often insufficient for true recovery. The program utilizes a holistic, trauma-informed framework that moves the arts from the periphery to the center of clinical excellence. By integrating art therapy, music therapy, and movement, the model provides a multi-modal pathway that allows clients to access and regulate emotions that are frequently unreachable through traditional verbal methods. The core of this initiative lies in its collaborative, evidence-based approach. Rather than viewing creative modalities as mere supplements, Expressive HEARTS clinicians synthesize these tools to create highly individualized healing journeys. This impact is further extended through the Creative Compass initiative in collaboration with Anchored in Hope Counseling. By expanding into community and senior spaces, the program fosters cognitive stimulation and emotional resilience, proving that the transformative power of the arts is essential for individuals of all ages. Expressive HEARTS represents a movement toward a more engaging and effective clinical landscape. To truly empower those in our care, we must embrace these creative modalities as essential tools for healing. We invite you to support the expansion of these programs into our broader community and senior populations to foster connection and renewed purpose.
Shelly Kepford is a Toledo therapist specializing in trauma-informed expressive arts. As Coordinator of Expressive HEARTS at OhioGuidestone and collaborator with Creative Compass, she integrates art, music, and movement. A Heidelberg and BGSU alumna, she is dedicated to a person-centered approach and advancing her professional vision for senior community outreach initiatives.
Daniel Huesman, a licensed social worker and chemical dependency counselor, has over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, program development, teaching, and mental health advocacy within the criminal justice system. As Opportunity Project Lead at Toledo Legal Aid Society, he advances initiatives to reduce recidivism and expand access to services.