For schools looking to support students’ emotional wellbeing and improve classroom behavior, art therapy can be an effective intervention for students of all ages.
Here’s a primer on art therapy for mental health, how it works in schools, the benefits you can expect, and how to get started bringing the practice to your school or district.
What is art therapy and how does it support mental health?
Art therapy supports mental wellness through active art creation and self-expression along with guidance from a trained mental health clinician.
Nearly every student can enjoy and benefit from the process of creating art, which can take the form of collage, painting, drawing, modeling with clay or plaster and more. Participants don’t need to have artistic talent or skills. Creating art helps children and teens to express their feelings without using words or language. A trained, licensed or board-certified art therapist can help the student explore and make connections between their creative choices and their emotions, memories, and experiences.
“The end product is not as important as the process and being present with them in the moment,” explained Jaclynn Di Loreto, a licensed professional art therapist (LPAT) working with students in Newark, NJ. “I always stress that I’m not an art teacher and not grading them. It’s their time to express themselves non-verbally, and as an art therapist I can learn so much about them from their artwork and the therapeutic process.”
Art therapy can help students with a wide range of needs, including:
- Trauma
- Autism
- Emotional dysregulation (ERI support)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Self-esteem
- Social skills
How art therapy works in a school setting
Art therapy is growing in popularity as a form of school-based counseling and emotional support for students of all ages. Because the practice works for groups as well as individual students, some schools begin by offering art therapy to classes of young students.
Jaclynn Di Loreto began by conducting art therapy sessions in ERI K-2 classrooms, getting to know the students and the behavioral and emotional issues they faced. She then began working one-on-one with students from those classes an average of one to three times per week.
Now the school is expanding the program into grades 3-5, so Jaclyn will repeat the process of working with each class and pulling out students to work with individually.
“Sometimes we start with a directive based on the child’s specific trauma or history, which might include a collage since that’s non-invasive,” explained Jaclynn. “But overall the process is quite fluid and flexible to allow for issues to emerge.”
Art therapy is particularly useful for addressing ERI issues with younger students. Not only do students gain an outlet to express both positive and negative emotions, which builds social and emotional development, but the sessions can even serve as an incentive to improve classroom behavior.
“Students really look forward to our sessions so that motivates them,” said Jaclynn. “If they’re acting up and I have a session scheduled with them, I can go in and remind them that they need to show me they can sit down and do their work. When I come back later, they are usually ready.”
The outcomes for students and schools
Participation in art therapy delivers a whole host of benefits for students, teachers, and schools.
With the guidance of an art therapist, students can express emotions like fear, anxiety, and anger through their art in a safe and controlled environment. The practice builds trust, self esteem, resilience, and cognitive function, all skills that help students succeed in school.
Students improve classroom behavior through better listening skills, following instructions, and emotional regulation. Jaclynn’s school awards points to students based on their behavior. As they earn more points for good behavior, students move from level 1 (poor behavior) to level 4 (best behavior). “I worked with students who couldn’t get past level 1, and now they’re at level 3. It’s a great improvement.”
Better behavior helps teachers with classroom management and increases the time available for instruction. That’s a win for everyone because grades improve across the board.
Finding an art therapy specialist
To get started providing art therapy in your school or district, you need a highly trained and licensed professional.
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) describes art therapists as “credentialed mental health professionals… trained in a broad range of psychological theory and ways to use art media and creative processes to help people cope with mental health challenges.”
Art therapists have earned a master’s degree in art therapy and certification from AATA, which requires 100 hours of supervised practicum, 600 hours of clinical art therapy experience, and passing a national exam. A qualified art therapist has the credentials ATR (art therapist registered) or ATR–BC (board–certified art therapist registered). Individual states may have different licensing requirements.
Thrive can help by placing a licensed and certified art therapist in your school, as well as providing appropriate clinical supervision. Contact Milissa Dachisen at (862) 701-5110 ext. 1005 or mdachisen@thrivealliancegroup.com to learn more and discuss your needs.
