About Art Therapy

Art therapy is a creative arts modality that uses the process of art making to promote emotional, social, and psychological well-being. Through art-making and self-expression, individuals can explore their thoughts and feelings, gain insight, and develop coping skills.  

Art therapy in the CCC is a specialised form of therapy that utilises the power of art-making to support children, young people and their families with adjustment and coping throughout their cancer treatment and hospitalisation. Art therapy also provides for an avenue to explore and celebrate the child and young person’s identity outside of their medical treatment. 

In art therapy, the focus is on the process rather than a finished product, allowing individuals to communicate non-verbally and allow space for emotional expression, choice and control and promotion of artist mastery. The art therapist draws upon evidence-based research when designing and implementing sessions e.g. mindfulness, art making for stress reduction and relaxation, strengths-based approaches to foster artist mastery, autonomy and to celebrate the child and young person’s identity outside of their medical treatment. 

 What to expect in an art therapy session

• Sessions may include a combination of one-to-one sessions at the patient’s bedside or in the day oncology space, and group sessions.  
• Sessions are designed to meet the child’s individual developmental and cognitive needs, incorporating the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the individual and families.
• A choice to create art independently with the art therapist’s guidance/support, or to engage in collaborative art making.
• An opportunity for the child to express the experience of illness and hospitalisation in a safe, contained way. 
• Building a therapeutic relationship with non-medical staff.  
• The use of art for relaxation and enjoyment. 
• The use of art to decrease anxiety.  
• Play through art making. 

All members of the art therapy team are Masters qualified. They are all registered art therapists through ANZACATA (the professional association for Creative Arts Therapies in Australia and New Zealand and Asia)  

Useful resources 

ANZACATA The Peak professional association for Creative Arts Therapies in Australia, New Zealand and Asia