The Bridge Behavioral Health (thebridgenebraska.org) has teamed up with Lincoln Arts Council to provide a weekly art class for their clients in residential treatment.
Danny Reneau is a local artist who came to The Bridge through the education and outreach portion of the Lincoln Arts Council. He is a self-taught artist with a focus on watercolor and ink.
“Danny taught me a lot about painting and it has been really exciting and therapeutic. This class is awesome because it gives me time to explore new things and my abilities. I created a set of hummingbird paintings that I gave to my daughter for her 17th birthday and she loved them,” current Bridge client James shares.
Not only is this a fun activity for clients at The Bridge to participate in, it also makes a positive impact on the recovery process.
“In the recovery process, creating art is beneficial because it provides an outlet for self-expression and processing emotions,” Katie Kimmerling, director of clinical services, explains. ”Art can be used as a therapeutic tool for individuals and their peers because it allows them to express themselves in ways other than with words, especially since communicating thoughts or emotions can be challenging.”
Since 1984, The Bridge has served people struggling with substance use and mental health disorders. Their programs include detoxification and medically monitored withdrawal, substance use and mental health respite, residential treatment, and outpatient services. Learn more at thebridgenebraska.org or contact Taylor Brethouwer at tbrethouwer@thebridgenebraska.org.