Art Therapy for Ill Children

Sourkes, B.M. (1991). Truth to life: Art therapy with pediatric oncology patients and their siblings. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 9(2), 81-96.

This publication discusses art therapy as a tool to facilitate the emotional expression of both children with cancer and their healthy siblings. Three specific techniques are described: (1) the mandala (color-feeling wheel); (2) the change-in-the-family drawing; and (3) the "scariest" drawing. The structured aspect of the three methods are said to allow the therapist to ask highly focused questions as well as interpret the drawings with the context of the child's individual perceptions of reality. Adaptations of the techniques with children whose ages range from 3 years upward are also discussed; further, the use of art therapy in conjunction with individual, family, or group counseling is examined.

Bertoia, J. & Allan, J. (1988). Counseling seriously ill children: Use of spontaneous drawings. Elementary School Guidance Counseling, 22(3), 206-221.

This article examines how an art therapy counselor can help a child deal with the awareness of his or her won death by providing an opportuni

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al Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 1(3-4), 255-263. Childhood diabetes can be life-threatening, especially if children do not comply with their medical regimen. This publication describes the objectives, organization, processes and outcomes of an art therapy activities group design to promote compliance with treatment. The program included art therapy as part of a general intervention; other activities included cooking classes, a camping trip, and a theater party. Dufrene, P. (1991). Utilizing the arts for healing from a native american perspective: Implications for creative arts therapies. Brandon University, Department of Native Studies, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, 15p. ERIC DOCUMENT ERIC 334 125. This fascinating article discusses the history of Native American healing methods involving art therapy, emphasizing the idea that art is considered to be an elemental part of life by Native Americans and not just a separate aesthetic ideal. The claim is made that it is natural for creative arts therapists to be attracted to Indian healers since the use of many forms of art (music, dancing, poetry, sand painting, and mask carving) have long been used by the Indians for the purposes of healing. The use of art therapies
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Approximate Word count = 1539
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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