What if we could turn our trauma into something beautiful?
That's the question our Founder and President, Lane Gardner, explores in her recent talk at TEDXBoston as she makes the case for using creative expression as an innovative and accessible solution to our rising mental health crisis.
Trauma: A Global Health Crisis
Trauma and mental health are quickly becoming an urgent global health crisis. Recent studies from the CDC report elevated levels of adverse mental health conditions, substance use and suicidal ideation. In fact, many doctors and mental health professionals are worried that the worst is yet to come as the pandemic gradually subsides and individuals and communities are faced with the emotional and psychological aftermath of this crisis.
The Data
How Thread Can Help
The arts have always reflected our shared stories, helping us better understand ourselves and our world.
Right now, we need innovative solutions to help alleviate our trauma. We need to counteract the isolation that trauma perpetuates.
Here at THREAD, we use the arts in a very intentional way: we help individuals and communities transform difficult experiences into beautiful, original works of art that not only helps them, but those who listen. Our collaborative, therapeutic songwriting and recording programming offers a safe and cathartic experience even for those who don’t think they have a creative bone in their body.
“By using creative expression as a safe container, we can cultivate conversation around trauma to help destigmatize mental health in ways that traditional talk-therapies may not be able to do.”
THREAD’s Process
Our work is two-fold: a creative, therapeutic process and a tangible, shareable product.
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First, we take participants through a safe, collaborative and cathartic process that cultivates connection, helping participants uncover the shared threads of their experiences. Facilitated by a master teaching artist and a licensed music therapist, our collaborative songwriting and recording workshops help participants learn how to transform their trauma into sound, lyrics, rhythm and rhyme, creating a fully produced collaborative song. Participants emerge from the program with a tangible representation of their healing process and can use it as a tool to remind them of their courage, strength and healing as they move forward.
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Secondly, these original songs are meant to be shared in wider circles. Whether shared with circles of friends, colleagues and family or placed in media outlets, streaming sites or live performances, these powerful, original songs can increase awareness of this urgent global health crisis. By opening up channels that reveal the shared threads of our experiences, these songs can inspire and help others, creating even larger circles of connection and conversation around mental health.
Therapeutic Study
We’re making a huge difference!
Results from our most recent study showed a 60% reduction in anxiety averaged among participants.
Each program is supported by a therapeutic study. Our facilitation team works with our partners to identify measurable goals for the program. We design and implement a series of surveys throughout the program to assess the progress of each participant as well as the overall group.
Thread’s work is also fertile ground for serving as a case study in medical, mental health and scientific research projects.
Highlighted program benefits include the following:
Reduced anxiety
Increased connection and communication
Increased tools for self-regulation
Meaning making and positive reframing
Click on graph to read the full study.
Partnering
Thread believes in the power of connection, of partnership and of aligning ourselves with individuals, communities and like-minded organizations who share similar vision and passion for helping those who suffer from the devastating impact of trauma. We believe our partnerships can serve as a catalyst that delivers even greater results when our fields of expertise are strategically combined.
“Trauma is perpetuated in isolation. Creative expression can be its medicine.”
Watch THREAD’s virtual therapeutic and collaborative COVID-19 Songwriting & Recording Project
Meeting This Moment
As we slowly emerge from the extreme difficulties of this period of time, there's a lot of clean up to do. We'll need to tend to our trauma both individually and collectively. We'll need more connection and conversation, more creativity and innovation, more attention to our healing and well being.
This work can no longer be considered ancillary, visionary or ahead of its time. At this moment, when the need for healing and connection is so great, it's nothing short of practical, necessary and accessible.
We’re in urgent and unprecedented times...
That’s what THREAD was built for.
Our Founders
Lane Gardner
President & Co-Founder
Pete Kalvert
Vice-President & Co-Founder
