5 Benefits of Art therapy for children

Have you heard about art therapy and wonder if it is an option for you and your family? Let me tell you a little about what it is, what possible benefits it can bring, and what an art therapy session looks like so that you can decide if it is the right modality for you.

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a therapeutic modality that uses aspects of art and psychotherapy, focusing on the creative process and what happens within us when we make art in a therapeutic space.

Unlike art therapy with adults, play is a central component of the model that Amapola Arteterapia works with. In the sessions, we not only utilize art-making as a therapeutic tool but also play since it is the main instrument children have to explore and make sense of their environment and social roles, for developing communication skills, cooperation, flexibility of thought, as well as processing the events in their life.

What are the benefits of art therapy for children?

Here is a list of five (and a bonus) of the multiple benefits that art therapy can bring to your child:

1. Safe and positive emotional release.

   Having a contained space to make art can allow us to channel our emotions into a creative process and produce an art object that is a testament to a positive and safe emotional release experience.

   
   

2. Develop flexibility of thinking and tolerance to frustration.

   Being able to experiment and try different ways of solving something through creativity without having "negative consequences" or being judged by the success or failure of the strategies we use helps develop flexibility of thought and tolerance for frustration.

   
   

   

   
   

3. Relaxation and enjoyment.

   Making art in an intentional and contained therapeutic context allows us to relax and connect with ourselves and others (in this case, the therapist) through imagination, creativity, and play, generating a positive experience.

   
   

4. Strengthen self-confidence and develop self-esteem.

   Experimenting with materials and being able to guide, knowing that the therapist is there to help if necessary, helps develop our decision-making skills and self-confidence. It allows children to experience a safe bond with someone who offers acceptance, respect, and unconditional listening, in a space that fosters creativity and self-knowledge within clear, previously explained limits.

   
   

5. Opportunity to resignify experiences.

   Through play and art, children can recreate difficult or traumatic events in a way in which they feel safe and in control. They can rehearse ways of responding, process emotions, and try to make sense of the event, allowing them to resignify their experiences and develop emotional self-regulation.

   
   

   BONUS: Expression of complex beliefs, needs, and emotions

   Through symbolic language, children can express complex beliefs, desires, needs, and emotions that may not be accepted in their family, community, or culture without the need for words. It becomes an opportunity to restructure things that have been experienced and learned.

A session with Amapola Art Therapy

Amapola Arteterapia offers in-person, individual art therapy support for children (6 years old +) and their families.

An art therapy session for children lasts between 40 and 60 minutes, depending on the child's needs. I offer individual sessions; however, depending on the circumstance, having joint sessions with a caregiver or family member might be suggested.

During the session, the child is offered a menu of materials to choose from, and if required, an appropriate art directive is offered. At this time, I accompany them by being an active participant, asking questions interwoven with the game from a place of curiosity, intervening and assisting as needed.