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Art Therapy
Fostering a Sense of Community
Our trained art therapists offer resources like nature art therapy in the Healing Garden and gallery displays to give children the opportunity to express themselves through creative activities. Our programs are made to complement the care children are receiving on their health journey.
Art therapy (according to the American Art Therapy Association) is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.
Art therapists are professionals who hold a master’s degree in art therapy and are credentialed, board certified and in many cases, licensed.
Understanding Art Therapy
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Art therapists at Children’s National Hospital work as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team to help individuals cope with the hospital experience. Art therapy is available to both children and their families.
We provide art therapy services to the following units/clinics:
- Gastrointestinal/Intestinal Rehab and 7E
- Heart and Kidney, Cardiac Intensive Care, Pediatric Intensive Care
- Hemodialysis
- Neuro-Ortho, Surgical Care
Our program helps individuals by:
- Exploring feelings about illness and hospitalization
- Fostering of the development and understanding of healthy coping strategies and pain management
- Providing opportunities for normalization and fun
- Promoting social interaction and sense of community within the hospital environment
- Offering supportive and developmentally appropriate opportunities for self-expression
We are also a Beads of Courage member hospital and provide the program to our individuals with chronic illness.
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- Art therapy theory
- Assessment and evaluation
- Counseling
- Ethics
- Human and creative development
- Individual, group and family techniques
- Multicultural issues
- Practicum experiences in clinical, community and other settings
- Psychotherapy
- Research methods
Art therapists are skilled in the application of a variety of art modalities (drawing, painting, sculpting and other media) and are able to adapt to many different abilities for assessment and treatment.
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Children’s National offers a rich, multidisciplinary setting for those interested in strengthening clinical skills and growing as art therapists. Graduate internships are available to students actively enrolled in The George Washington University Art Therapy Graduate Program. We do not accept undergraduate applicants for internships. To be considered for an internship, one must do the following:
- Be actively enrolled in a graduate art therapy program
- Provide a resume
- Provide professional and personal references
- Present a portfolio of artwork
- Attend an interview
- If offered a position, interns must complete an extensive application process that includes medical and background clearance before practicum can commence.
One or more graduate art therapy practicum positions with Creative and Therapeutic Art Services are available per school calendar year.
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We accept art supply donations from those who are interested in helping the Art Therapy Program at Children's National continue to provide services throughout the unit. If you are interested in donating, please email us.
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For more information about Art Therapy with Creative and Therapeutic Art Services, please email us or call us at 202-476-3255.
COVID-19 Mental Health Support Resources
In this time of social distancing, we're offering remote art therapy, in which our therapists read books and provide activities for you and your child to do at home, to help your child express their feelings during the pandemic.
View our videos and activities