The Power of Art Therapy

The Power of Art Therapy

The Fly A Kite Foundation provides custom art packages for children with pediatric brain cancers. Our goal: to provide a creative and therapeutic outlet for children suffering from diminished motor function as a result of their illness.

Understanding Art Therapy

Art therapy is based on the idea that the creative act can be healing. According to practitioners, called art therapists, it helps people express hidden emotions; reduces stress, fear, and anxiety; and provides a sense of freedom. Many art therapists also believe the act of creation influences brain wave patterns and the chemicals released by the brain. Art therapy has been used with bone marrow transplant patients, people with eating disorders, emotionally impaired young people, disabled people, the chronically ill, chemically addicted individuals, sexually abused adolescents, caregivers of cancer patients, and others. Art therapy may also be used to engage and distract patients whose illnesses or treatments cause pain.

Artwork may also be used as a diagnostic tool, particularly with children, who often have trouble talking about painful events or emotions. Art therapists say that often children can express difficult emotions or relay information about traumatic times in their lives more easily through drawings than through conventional therapy.

People involved in art therapy are given the tools they need to produce paintings, drawings, sculptures, and many other types of artwork. Art therapists work with patients individually or in groups. The job of the art therapist is to help patients express themselves through their creations and to talk to patients about their emotions and concerns as they relate to their art. For example, an art therapist may encourage a person with cancer to create an image of themselves with cancer, and in this way express feelings about the disease that may be hard to talk about or may be unconscious.

Our Process for Healing

The Fly A Kite Foundation has partnered with Patricia Kearney, an Occupational Physical Therapist from Transition of Long Island, to help develop the custom art packages that we offer to patients based on individual applications. Together with the foundation, Patricia reviews the detailed qualification report that will be supplied by the families of the patient. Patricia will also speak with the families, patients and their doctors to get a full understanding of the current course of treatment and what additive therapies can be supplied to enhance the quality of life of the patient. Patricia will be communicating with the families and doctors on a regular basis to make sure all supplies are therapeutically appropriate given the child’s medical needs. Learn more about the application process and download an application here.