Therapy Helps Children Heal Through Art
from The Children's Hospital (TCH) News, May 2004
Art therapist Pat Rutter, MA, passes a ball with children in
the BMT/Hematology/Oncology Clinic as part of the clinic’s
movement therapy program.
At The Children’s Hospital, the healing process is much more than medicine: It is healing through music, art and dance/movement therapies.
The Psychiatric Day Treatment (PDT), Medical Day Treatment (MDT) and the BMT/ Hematology/ Oncology Clinic have integrated creative art therapies into patient treatment. Creative art therapies use art, music and dance/movement for therapeutic purposes. These programs give patients an expressive outlet to help them cope with hospitalization and gives the caregiver insight into how patients are handling their situations.
Art therapists in Psychiatric Day Treatment are professionals trained both in art and therapy. The program is staffed by art therapy intern Michele Turek, supervised by on-staff clinical psychologist Dr. Wendy Smith, and Jennifer Trinkle, an intern in the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit, who is supervised by Dr. Robin Gabriels. With the instruction of their art therapist, patients participate in individual art therapy sessions, group sessions and a weekly open art studio. Ninety-five to 100 students have participated in the groups so far, Smith said.
In an art therapy group session, typically the therapist presents a specific task, such as painting a mural, and asks patients to come up with theme ideas. As patients contribute, they are encouraged to pick their own style and techniques for the art project, but the group dynamic allows them to do so in a more cooperative atmosphere. Individual sessions allow the art therapist to provide time for counseling sessions through the "language of art."
The open art studio is a time for "free creation" and allows patients to enjoy art as a hobby. Because art is non-threatening, kids reveal much through their artwork, Smith said. Upon evaluation, art therapists and psychologists gain insight about the patient, which allows them to better treat and connect with the patient.
Music therapist Tony Edelblute, MA, uses music as a counseling partner in Medical Day Treatment, Psychiatric Day Treatment and the Inpatient Unit. The music therapy program began a few years ago and is continuing to reach kids through music.
The BMT/Hematology/Oncology Clinic has been using creative art therapies for the past year. The program is led by dance/movement therapist Pat Rutter, MA, and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Madden. Similar to the PDT and MDT creative art programs, oncology uses dance/movement therapy as well. Dance/movement therapy involves activities such as tracing bodies on paper on the floor, passing balls and using movement to process therapy.
In group and individualized sessions, oncology patients have responded well.
"It’s amazing to hear laughter for the first time in the Infusion Room," Madden said. "That part of healing is just as important as medical treatment."
Creative art therapies give kids a safe way to process what they’re going through. In addition to expressing the complex emotions that come with being sick, creative arts provide fun activities that allow kids to just be kids. These innovative therapies contribute to the healing process and contribute to the mission of The Children’s Hospital.
For more information about any of these programs, contact Wendy Smith at x8557 or Jennifer Madden at x3407.
