About Art Therapy What is Art Therapy? What is art therapy? Art Therapy is an established form of psychotherapy, delivered by trained art therapists. Art therapy uses art as the primary mode of expression, alongside talking with an art therapist. It aims to reduce distress and improve social, emotional, or mental health by promoting insight, self-compassion, and a sense of agency and self-worth (BAAT definition). What are the benefits of art therapy for children with chronic conditions? Art therapy helps a child to feel more in control of what’s happening to them and to cope better with the effects of their condition. Art therapy can give children and young people a space to process their experiences. Group art therapy can give children a sense of belonging and a chance to meet others like them. This can create a safe space to share with peers the difficulties they are facing. These issues are often shared by those in the group and children feel understood by others the same age, often for the first time. Additionally, the groups can provide the opportunity for friendships to be made. Why art therapy? Art as therapy has been proven to be powerful and transformative, often where traditional talking therapies have failed. Sometimes children struggle to understand and recognise their difficulties and can be overwhelmed by their emotions. Art therapy can offer ways to think about difficult topics in a gentle way. An example of this is the maze activity – an art therapist can ask a child to draw a maze and then add in their obstacles. This can help a child understand and begin to talk about barriers and worries they are experiencing. How is art therapy delivered? We provide one-to-one support to children and young people struggling with a diagnosis or treatment regime. Small peer groups support those who share the same or similar health conditions in common. Open groups run in outpatient clinics providing welcome distraction from the stress and wait times of clinic. All of our Art Therapists are fully qualified allied health professionals and registered with the Health & Care Professions Council Our Art Therapists are all members of the British Association of Art Therapists. For more information please view our Welcome Pack for families which explains more about what’s involved and includes FAQs. Manage Cookie Preferences