Art Therapy
Art Therapy is one of many modalities that is capable of helping guide a child to health and happiness in a therapeutic setting. Art Therapy is the expressive language of the conscious and the unconscious mind of children. The pursuit of art can be accomplished through various media including: drawing, clay making, sculpting, mosaics, music, photography, and other varieties of art modalities.
Art Therapy is instrumental in the assessment and treatment of a variety of childhood psychological and physical disorders. Art Therapy provides a child a way to verbally or nonverbally express feelings while at the same time allowing for the processing of complex emotions and unexplored trauma and anxieties. Children may use art in a therapy session to tell a story of trauma or of everyday experience/reality for which they are unable to unwilling to express with words.
Research has shown that Art Therapy can be very effective in treating disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and some phobias. The creation of art has been shown to stimulate the release dopamine, the chemical released in our brain when engage in a pleasurable activity. Increased levels of this neurotransmitter can make one feel happier and therefore can be extremely beneficial in the treatment of a child battling anxiety or depression.
Art therapy has clinically shown to improve the mental health of children and teens experiencing addictions, anxiety, ADHD, grief and loss, depression, eating disorders, self-harm behaviors, physical illness, PTSD, and trauma. During a therapy session, the therapist’s focus is not with a child’s finished art product but instead primarily focuses on the actual process of its creation and the feelings and emotions that may rise during and after the end result.
The usefulness of Art Therapy as a therapeutic technique with children relies on its ability to help manage behaviors, process feelings, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Ways in which the process of art therapy benefits children and adolescents in therapy include:
Art Therapy is instrumental in the assessment and treatment of a variety of childhood psychological and physical disorders. Art Therapy provides a child a way to verbally or nonverbally express feelings while at the same time allowing for the processing of complex emotions and unexplored trauma and anxieties. Children may use art in a therapy session to tell a story of trauma or of everyday experience/reality for which they are unable to unwilling to express with words.
Research has shown that Art Therapy can be very effective in treating disorders such as Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and some phobias. The creation of art has been shown to stimulate the release dopamine, the chemical released in our brain when engage in a pleasurable activity. Increased levels of this neurotransmitter can make one feel happier and therefore can be extremely beneficial in the treatment of a child battling anxiety or depression.
Art therapy has clinically shown to improve the mental health of children and teens experiencing addictions, anxiety, ADHD, grief and loss, depression, eating disorders, self-harm behaviors, physical illness, PTSD, and trauma. During a therapy session, the therapist’s focus is not with a child’s finished art product but instead primarily focuses on the actual process of its creation and the feelings and emotions that may rise during and after the end result.
The usefulness of Art Therapy as a therapeutic technique with children relies on its ability to help manage behaviors, process feelings, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase self-esteem. Ways in which the process of art therapy benefits children and adolescents in therapy include:
- Self-Discovery: Creating art allows a child to acknowledge and recognize feelings that are hiding in the subconscious
- Self-Esteem: The process of creating art will give a child a feeling of self-accomplishment which can be valuable in improving self-esteem and confidence
- Emotional Release: The greatest benefit of art therapy is the ability to provide a child or adolescent with a healthy outlet for expressing and letting go all feelings of anxiety and fear. Complex emotions such as depression and anger sometimes are difficult for children to express with just words.
- Stress Relief: Children experiencing anxiety, depression, or emotional trauma are under a lot of stress both physically and emotionally. Creating art can be used to relieve stress and relax the mind and body.
Sand Therapy
Sand Therapy is a specialized process within play therapy and the expressive and therapeutic arts which combines the tactile process of sand play with the selection of miniature toys to symbolically represent a child’s thought process and/or experience. Sand Therapy is a form of art and self-expression which provides a child the opportunity for putting their feelings and emotions into visual images in order to process a story or complex life event in a way that is better seen and understood.
Sand Therapy has been shown effective in working with children and teens who have experienced a serious traumatic event such as abuse and/or violence. Research has shown that sand play is effective in helping vulnerable children with pre-verbal trauma, as it is a good treatment modality for children who are too young to talk about their traumatic experience.
Child therapists will use sand trays to assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of mental disorders in children; including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, and behavior issues. Research shows sand therapy can help a child increase emotional expression while also reducing psychological and physical distress.
During a Sand Therapy session, a child therapist primarily serves as an outside observer and rarely interrupts the process. It is believed that the child is able to create a world within the sand tray that represents their internal struggle or conflict. After the sand play is complete, the therapist and child will discuss what was observed, the toys that were chosen, how they were arranged, and any symbolic or metaphorical meaning.
Sand Therapy has been shown effective in working with children and teens who have experienced a serious traumatic event such as abuse and/or violence. Research has shown that sand play is effective in helping vulnerable children with pre-verbal trauma, as it is a good treatment modality for children who are too young to talk about their traumatic experience.
Child therapists will use sand trays to assess, diagnose, and treat a variety of mental disorders in children; including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, and behavior issues. Research shows sand therapy can help a child increase emotional expression while also reducing psychological and physical distress.
During a Sand Therapy session, a child therapist primarily serves as an outside observer and rarely interrupts the process. It is believed that the child is able to create a world within the sand tray that represents their internal struggle or conflict. After the sand play is complete, the therapist and child will discuss what was observed, the toys that were chosen, how they were arranged, and any symbolic or metaphorical meaning.