Expressive Therapy
Expressive psychotherapy incorporates play, sand tray, art, music, puppetry, writing and drama as therapeutic interventions to help individuals express themselves in a non-threatening way. By expressing their feelings, fears, worries, hopes and dreams, children and their families can externalize the energy held within and allow their bodies to heal.
Explore a Virtual Tour of a Playroom
Expressive therapy is offered to inpatients at Kosair Children’s Hospital, as well as to their parents and siblings.
Expressive therapy, offered individually or in a group setting, provides:
- A safe, non-threatening environment for children and adults to express their fears and concerns through artwork, play and/or discussion
- Emotional support
- An outlet for self-expression
- Normalizing activities in an “abnormal” environment/situation
- Techniques in relaxation and pain management
- Improved body image and self-esteem
- Affirmation of self
- Increased sense of control
- Many ways to express feelings
- Added support for families coping with a child’s illness
While injuries are one source of trauma for children, they also may be traumatized through medical procedures. Because expressive therapies incorporate many sensory interventions such as clay, painting, movement and play, research has shown that children and adults who develop signs of post-traumatic stress disorder respond best with expressive therapy. If you or your family member exhibits feelings or behavior related to a traumatic event, please contact your physician for an expressive therapy referral.
Kosair Children’s Hospital has qualified and experienced expressive therapists who have completed master’s degrees and received their Art Therapy Registration. Board Certification is recommended for expressive therapists.
For more information about art therapy, visit the American Art Therapy Association.
Created by a five-year old male. He and his mother were involved in car accident and she did not survive. The patient drew himself and his mother encapsulated with her name above the box. Patient included the belly buttons on each figure symbolizing the connection between mother and child.
The artist was a nine-year old male whose sister was in a motor vehicle accident and sustained a cervical spine injury, leaving her ventilator dependent. Her brother created the tree, forming the roots and then branches. He added leaves and then a bird nest. He created a cardinal mother bird with a baby under each wing. He also sculpted an eagle who he described as flying down to steal away one of the cardinal babies. When the therapist asked what happens next, the brother replied, "Well, we don’t know yet." At that time, we did not know what would happen to his sister who later died.
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