Artreach Inc. began in 1985 and is a non-profit arts organization that provides performing opportunities and art classes for adults who have experienced mental health issues.

Personal growth and healing occur for the members who participate. Public performances are used as a platform to educate and reduce the stigma about mental health and disabilities.

Executive Director Becca Atkins and Associate Director Emma Palzere-Rae were guests on “Stories Worth Telling with the Steels” to discuss their important journeys.

“It has evolved over the last 20-plus years,” said Atkins.

“While participating, it is an oasis of sorts,” Atkins added. “When people come to do arts with us we ask them to disidentify with their diagnosis.”

By “disidentify,” Becca means: Leave your diagnosis at the door.

The staff at Artreach Inc. knows that participants may have symptoms occurring, but the environment is adapted to help them feel comfortable. Here, they leave their troubles at the door to be an actor, musician, or visual artist- to focus on the project at hand.

Disidentifying allows members to practice in a very supportive environment, creating something positive. It is a mindfulness practice.

With theater there’s an added element. Sketch comedies are about mental health and specific illnesses. Actors can inform their audiences and each other about their own experiences. Members are heightening their own self-awareness.

The healing is three-fold. Becca explains, “Personal awareness, interpersonal awareness (group), and the larger community (the audience) are all informed in this paradigm.”

It is important to not wire the trauma but to practice better thought patterns and observe the story. Disidentify and do not see the story as the truth.

Artreach Inc. offers a variety of programs that result in public performances:: The Second Step Players theater troupe; Music Heals coffeehouses; Comic Alchemy, a stand-up comedy group; and A Mixed Bag, a revue combining music, comedy and other works. Weekly art workshops are led by mural artist Faith Satterfield. Art Shows, comedy writing, monologue writing, music and recreation activities offer members the opportunity to gain skills and build community.

Artreach published a book etry in collaboration with local artist Ali Maderson-Quinlog. Creativity Heals includes both art and poems. Each Artreach member understands that creativity heals. Members attend creative events to support and engage in the art world.

Reducing isolation and engagement motivate and encourage growth.

Becoming an artist or an actor is about giving yourself permission to take a risk. Creatives need to ask themselves, how can I grow? How can I improve? There is always a way to build skill in your chosen craft.

Interpersonal skills, including communication, build through working in theater, for example. When actors apologize for their performance, they are not hearing and applying the director’s feedback, an important aspect for actors.

“It teaches you to not take things personally and value critical feedback as the only way to grow,” said Atkins.

Actors learn their lines and get off script as soon as possible. They develop their own voice.

Audience members have rushed to the stage after a One Person Show Project to encircle the actors who presented their monologues. Telling personal triumphs is very empowering. Artreach is changing lives by addressing universal truths.

Atkins has opportunities to work with nursing students from Three Rivers Community College who are either approaching or recently completing a psych rotation. After the show a candid question and answer series ensues.

Nursing students are allowed to ask whatever they want. Students have asked, “What would you have wanted from the nurse while in the hospital?”

In other words, how can nurses in a clinical or hospital setting have performed better or differently?

Artreach leaders say, “Nobody does what they do!” They are not art therapy, not music therapy, not drama therapy. The arts are used for healing, and the process of wiring health to beautiful and creative artforms is amazing.

Standard theater warm-ups occur with body stretching and voice exercises as part of the routines.

“The bar is high and a good amount of challenge exists,” said Atkins. Members focus on the tasks that are assigned. Staff supports its members to reach the expectations and challenges.

A dual focus exists on healing and artistic quality. Actors bring their own learning style to a safe place. Practice occurs with a Zen mindset, team approach and improv (making your partner look good).

Artreach heals one heart, one actor, one event at a time, building community and hope.

Cate Steel lives in East Lyme. Find out more about her at catesteel.com.

The “Stories Worth Telling” shows are on public access TV Sunday night at 7:30 p.m.; subscribers on the YouTube channel have eclipsed 1,800 with some of the shows reaching hundreds to thousands of views.