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What is Art Therapy?

Embracing Mental Health: The Transformative Power of Art Therapy

At Lucile Packard Children鈥檚 Hospital Stanford, the art therapy program plays a pivotal role in .

Who are Art Therapists?

Our Art Therapists are Master Level, Registered and/or Board Certified professionals who are trained in human development, psychological theory, counselling skills and clinical practice. Art therapists may utilize specific art directives to assess a patient鈥檚 mental health, facilitate opportunities for control, relaxation and self-expression, while continually incorporating evidence based research to enhance our patient鈥檚 quality of life. Art Therapy is currently offered on a referral basis in all Acute Care Patient Units (PCU 200, 300, 400) as well as in the Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation units (PCU 160).

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Art therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses art to support a patient鈥檚 therapeutic goals through evidence-based practices. Patients may not have the words to communicate their thoughts and feelings, and art making can support them in finding the words to describe their personal and medical experiences.

Art therapy sessions encourage the creation of art throughout a traditional talk therapy session, in either a one-to-one or group setting. Art therapists may use specific art directives to assess a patient鈥檚 mental health and facilitate opportunities for control, relaxation, self-expression, and quality of life. Art therapists work closely with the treatment team to tailor interventions for each patient and family.

No previous experience with art is necessary to benefit from this service.

How art therapy can help patients and families in the hospital

  • Emotional expression
  • Quality of life
  • Normalization
  • Relaxation
  • Decreasing pain and symptoms
  • Relieving stress and anxiety
  • Positive coping

Art Therapy is currently offered on a referral basis in:

  • Inpatient acute care units.

Art therapist education/certification

  • Hold a master鈥檚 degree (or higher) in Art Therapy from an approved program. Their studies focus on human development, psychological theory, counseling skills, and clinical practice.
  • Complete 100 hours of supervised practicum and 600 hours of supervised art therapy clinical internship.
  • Complete a minimum of 1,000 supervised, post-education direct client hours.

Professional organizations

Research