While physical therapy, medications, and a variety of treatments are critical to a child’s recovery, art therapy in healthcare facilities has become another tool for healing. Art therapy is often used in assessment and treatment techniques to provide an opportunity for children to express themselves and find new ways to develop coping skills and personal insight. Through exploring art, children can identify themes and conflicts that may be affecting their emotions or create separation between themselves and their illness.

In most pediatric settings, art therapy is used as a coping mechanism to relieve anxiety surrounding treatment, fear of the unknown, fear of a new place, and more. Other facilities that may implement art therapy for children include mental health facilities, halfway houses, schools, and residential treatment facilities.

What are some of the benefits of art therapy?

  • + Build self-esteem
  • + Communication outlet with others, both verbal and non-verbal
  • + Coping and sorting through feelings
  • + Expressing unconscious messaging and feelings
  • + Self-exploration
  • + Reduced anxiety and stress
  • + Trigger memory making
  • + Develop comfort
  • + Releasing frustration caused by medical challenges

 

What types of art forms are utilized?

  • + Drawing
  • + Finger painting
  • + Making collages
  • + Coloring
  • + Doodling
  • + Sculpting
  • + Working with clay
  • + Movable magnetic graphics

 

For most children, creating artwork is a fun hobby that offers a distraction to their medical challenges. It provides a feeling of normalcy and comfort – it is familiar to them as it is an activity they were able to enjoy prior to any medical challenges or trauma. These creative outlets can be implemented at home by parents, in schools, churches, and more as a form of therapy.

We are honored to be part of several art therapy installs with Beacon Children’s Hospital. Learn how we worked together to create forms of communication through artwork for pediatric patients.

 

Beacon Children's Art Therapy Dept. Magnetic Wall Panels

“My most recent project for the pediatric unit wall was turning it into a giant coloring page! It has been quite a hit for something fun an interactive as kids will stop and color on the paper while they may be taking a walk around the unit. These walls add such a fun and kid friendly space for patients to add their own creativity and easily change out the artwork or design, I still absolutely love them!” - Sarah Tyler, MAAT, Art Therapist, Beacon Children's Hospital

 

Beacon Children's NICU Family Room Column

The Olee Team worked with Beacon Children’s Hospital Art Therapist Sarah Tyler to develop changeable magnetic wall graphics on a column that allows families of NICU patients to get away from the stress of the NICU for a few moments and create a message of hope that is displayed in the family lounge.

 

 

Beacon Children's Hem/Onc Art Display

“The BCH chalkboard magnetic wall on the pediatric hematology and oncology unit has become a kind of catch all for whatever art the patients create and would like to hang up! Kind of feels like the unit "refrigerator" for artwork and messages, which is a lot of fun.” - Sarah Tyler, MAAT, Art Therapist, Beacon Children's Hospital

 

 

Looking to create applications for art therapy in healthcare? We work with you to create custom art installations that fit your goals. Contact us to get in touch with our customer service to learn more about our printing capabilities!