Creative Arts Therapy Reaches New Heights

from The Children's Hospital (TCH) News, March 2006

Hope, a participant in The
Children's Hospital's Ponzio
Creative Arts Therapy Program,
expresses herself through
painting. The program began two
years ago after donor and
Children's board member Craig
Ponzio read about it in TCH News
and donated $2 million toward
the program.

The next Kids' Gallery exhibit, which begins March 14, will feature artwork created by patients in the Psychiatric Day Treatment Program. Join these artists at the opening reception on the Pavilion's second floor on Wednesday, March 15, at 11 a.m.

Hope, a participant in The Children's Hospital's Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program, expresses herself through painting. The program began two years ago after donor and Children's board member Craig Ponzio read about it in Children’s News and donated $2 million toward the program.

Nearly two years ago, donor and Children's Hospital Board member Craig Ponzio read an article in Children’s News about creative arts therapies at the hospital. Understanding the importance of art therapy in the healing process, Craig picked up the phone and asked what more could be done.

Today, the newly funded Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy (PCAT) Program is thriving, helping children heal through art, music, dance and yoga therapies. Children throughout the hospital are using the arts to express themselves, to understand their places in the world, and - most importantly - to heal.

Katherine Reed, MA, art therapist and manager, joined Children's last June to oversee the program's support and development. She brings her international experience connecting communities through art to this dynamic team.

Tony Edelblute, MA, MT-BC, music therapist, uses his talents as a musician and songwriter to communicate with children through music.

Michele Turek, MA, art therapist, brings artistic talent and passion to the program. A young artist in her weekly group explains, "I can use art to express emotions that I can't express any other way."

Lisa Kaley-Isley, PhD, is breaking new ground by incorporating her years of psychological experience into a therapeut-ically sound yoga practice. A patient with a history of multiple brain surgeries said, "I love how happy and proud I feel when I have successfully learned a new pose."

Keli Laverty, MA, DTR, is the latest addition to the team as a Dance/Movement Therapist.

In collaboration with Arts Management, the PCAT team organizes the Kids' Gallery, an ongoing installation of patient artwork in the hallway to the ED. The current show features an artist from the Eating Disorders Unit, whose art represents her struggle to recover from anorexia.

"When I look at the show, I feel surprised," the artist said. "I didn't think I could do anything like that."

The PCAT program is expanding to collaborate with other pediatric programs, including oncology, in support of ongoing research by Jenny Madden, RN, MSN, PNP, and Pat Rutter, MS, DTR, LPC; the Cystic Fibrosis task force; the CHIP program serving kids and families living with HIV; and the Bereavement Program, providing grief groups to families and siblings.

Thanks to the Ponzio family, Creative Arts Therapy is reaching new heights at The Children's Hospital.