Ruth (in the middle) and part of her team.
Market Theatre is proud to continue highlighting the remarkable businesses and individuals who make our work possible. Each sponsor brings something unique to the table, helping us build a stronger and more vibrant arts community here in Anderson.
In this edition of our Sponsor Spotlight, we're excited to introduce another exceptional partner whose values and vision align beautifully with our mission at Market Theatre: Ruth Harbin Counseling and 215 Society Street. Through her practice, Ruth Harbin (LISW-CP/S) strives to help clients experience courage, exploration, and joy. Additionally, 215 Society Street serves as a community healing space, providing both physical and energetic space for individuals seeking personal growth and interpersonal reconciliation.
What inspired you to become a therapist and start Ruth Harbin Counseling and 215 Society Street?
I come from a family with a rich ancestry of professional helpers. They are preachers, teachers, doctors, nurses, research librarians, and grant writers. And growing up, I gravitated towards mentors who also worked in professions dedicated to community health, such as ministry, social work, and education.
After working different jobs, completing graduate school, and earning my license as a clinical social worker, I founded Ruth Harbin Counseling in 2018 as an independent clinical social worker, as a way to serve clients with more autonomy and provide a higher standard of care.
By 2021, my dream became a reality with the opening of 215 Society Street Wellness Center. This space is designed to foster personal growth and support interpersonal connection, embodying my belief in co-creating an environment where individuals can heal and grow within a beloved community.
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive, integrative approach to mental health and wellness. Through a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, we guide individuals, couples and families to live more in alignment with their values by creating more opportunities to experience courage, exploration and joy. The vision for 215 Society Street Wellness is to be a community hub for transformation, supporting each person's unique journey toward healing, growth, and meaningful connection.
How did you get involved with Market Theatre, and what motivated you to do so?
Like most of Andersonians, my love for Market Theatre started with Shakespeare in the Park. I was especially drawn to the creative use of staging and props, and the accessibility for the community to enjoy Musicals put on by Market Theatre at Carolina Wren Park. My passion and motivation grew to get more involved with Market Theatre as they began to do stage productions that brought awareness to mental health. These productions highlighted eating disorders, addiction, anxiety, depression and suicide; issues I often encounter in my practice. Now I go to "almost" every show at least once and sometimes more, including the 24 Hour Musical and The Arts for All Gala.
Ruth & friends with Thor Raines (Frank-N-Furter) from our 2024 production of The Rocky Horror Show.
Is there anything about theatre that you’ve used to help your clients – or yourself – cope with the stresses of life?
I believe theatre allows for us to hold both pain and joy in a way that is not minimizing or invalidating. It reminds me that art and creativity are process based rather than outcome based. This is my approach to therapy. I teach that the healing journey is a way for all of us to navigate life, love, loss and discomfort. Theatre shows us how to hold space for all the parts of ourselves. It reminds me to welcome the duality of my emotions; honoring pain and joy in equal measures.
Why do you think it's important to support the arts, especially in Anderson?
In my role as a therapist and the therapeutic space I create with folx, I most value increasing self-expression and having a place to be seen, heard and witnessed. Supporting the arts in Anderson is an extension of me living out that value in my daily life and using my resources to grow the theatre community. I hope that by supporting Market Theatre, the transformative power of the arts can make a greater impact. It also brings me JOY to support the arts, be surrounded by the performers and have quality and inclusive theatre right here in my hometown.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony for 215 Society Street.
What's been your favorite memory or moment with Market Theatre that's left a lasting impression on you?
Wow - so many to choose from! RENT will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the first show I sponsored. I still remember being at the Arts for All Gala when the season was announced, and I was so pumped that I went straight to Noah and said, "I must sponsor this show!" This became an annual routine for me, as it is exactly how I became the sponsor for Kinky Boots.
Perhaps the shows that made the greatest impression were the performance by Drag Queen, Delighted ToBeHere, in Hello Daddy and Drag 101. She is a brilliant, talented performer, as well as a kind, gentle, and gracious human.
Ruth & friends with Caleb Jackson (Lola) from our 2023 production of Kinky Boots.
Some of your specific Market sponsorships have included Kinky Boots and The Rocky Horror Show. What attracts you to these particular shows?
I love shows with an edge that push the envelope. I love shows that tackle hard and often "off-limit" issues. Self-expression is so important to our social, emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health. Shows like RENT, Kinky Boots, and The Rocky Horror Show reveal authentic characters in real struggles that many of us can relate to. These are complex stories with layered characters that don't paint the world as black and white or right and wrong. Because let's face it - it's BOTH, AND. We are able to hold both sadness and celebration at the same time. AND we need more practice doing it. Being involved in performance art, even as an audience member, helps us stay out of rigid thinking and bring more flexibility to our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
What events or shows are you most looking forward to this season?
I'm really looking forward to PUFFS this season. I got to see the Off-Broadway spoof during a trip to New York one summer. It was incredible. I immediately came home and signed up for a free trial of Broadway HD so I could watch it with my spouse. As a solid through and through PUFF myself, having a Puff be center stage was incredibly satisfying. Go Puffs!
If you're seeking a licensed therapist or a community organization to support your personal growth, contact Ruth Harbin Counseling or 215 Society Street for more information.
If this blog has inspired you to support Market Theatre, please consider donating to the Camp Scholarship Fund. This fund helps ensure that as many students as possible can attend camp and experience the magic of theatre. If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, please visit our Donations and Sponsorships page for more details.
