Art therapy can work very well for children with cancer by giving them a safe way to communicate their anxieties. As children and adolescents do not always have the words to express what they are going through and are by nature creative, then art therapy can be a wonderful outlet for them. It can:
- Help express buried emotions
- Give a feeling of self confidence and freedom
- Help cope with grief, fear, anxiety and depression
- Distract from pain and discomfort
- Feel more positive
Children with cancer have emotional needs that require just as much attention as their physical needs. Young cancer patients experience fear, anxiety, depression and other emotions associated with serious chronic illnesses. Some medical facilities offer art therapy programs for children with cancer that provides these children with a creative outlet for their emotions.
Art is a wonderful tool that can be used to capture emotion and express and enhance creativity, especially in children. The young patients and their siblings who recently took part in CertaPro Painters’ “Painting Smiles” event at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Centre can attest to this. Each child received a canvas and painting colors courtesy of CertaPro Painters, the most referred painting contractors in North America. Paul Guenette, the owner of CertaPro’s London (Ontario) location, had the honour of hosting the event, along with Bristles®, CertaPro’s fun-loving paintbrush mascot. The Children’s Health Foundation mascot, Dr. Beary Goode, was also there joining in the fun.
Children need a safe way to communicate their anxieties, and often the best way to cope can be found in the trappings of childhood: crayons, paper, paint, clay. Children and adolescents don’t always have words to express what they are going through and are typically creative by nature – both of which makes them well-suited for art therapy intervention. Activities based in creative art therapies engage them in a process that builds self-esteem as well as problem solving and life skills. Their creativity helps them access and explore pent-up emotions.
While therapy and psychotherapy in general have many benefits, the concept of art therapy has proven to be successful in various ways that differ from traditional therapy practice. There are various uses for art therapy with regards to healing, but the benefits may surprise you if you’ve never heard of art as a form of therapy. Other art therapy programs /resources are mentioned below:
Cay Randall-May of Phoenix, Arizona painted a Passion for Peppers after her son’s death in August of 1998. The pepper images helped her express my grief. She is the author of Healing and the Creative Response and a cancer survivor.
A recent report reveals that women with breast cancerreceiving radiation treatment experienced improved mental health, physical health, and an overall higher quality of life after 5 sessions of art therapy.The American Art Therapy Association connects you to the important work of art therapists around the world who use the creative process to help people of all ages improve their health and emotional well-being. Another organization, Art & Creativity for Healing uses art facilitators to promote healing.
Just as you assert, art therapy not only helps adult cancer patients in a variety of ways, but does, indeed, help the pediatric oncology patients, especially when dealing with traumatic treatments. I looked into the claim, and research definitely backs you up (can check it out at “‘Art Is A Form Of Power:’ Art Therapy and Cancer” at if you’re interested in the studies). What an innovative, even fun, and side-effect free way to assist children in this painful process.