Art Therapy for Children
Tomasi et al., 2022
This article examines the development of clinical interventions in the form of Art Therapy and Cognitive-behavior Therapy-based workshops for children, families, and caregivers. Objectives: To enhance resilience in the subject population and professional staff via the administration of psychoeducational and practical, skill-based creative activities, and subsequent surveys. Method: Clinical supervision of CBT-based psychoeducational and art therapy-based activities with professional caregivers and data collection. The project is structured on three main phases: a) Development of the theoretical framework and the practical application of concepts and skills in the workshop series; b) Conduction of two Workshops with caregiver staff at the selected Family Room with focus on provided education, support, and connection for parents and promoted physical, social, emotional and linguistic development in children; c) Examination of the results of staff-administered surveys and questionnaires pre- and post- sessions to monitor perceived experiential changes in theoretical background, learning perspectives, and practical application of the concepts discussed during each workshop. Results: The examination of the data collected suggested a strong support for the implementation of Art and CBT-based intervention in the given population, and the need for further education in the areas of Art Therapy and CBT-informed Psychotherapy for both professionals, children, and families. Keywords: Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Child Development, Human Growth, Art Therapy