What Do We Do? | Play Therapy | Art Therapy | Child Protection Team | Statistics

Art Therapy

In addition to play therapy, art therapy can be used to help a child release his or her emotions associated with the abuse experience. The art making process reduces anxiety and helps the child process his or her feelings toward the perpetrator. The child’s art throughout the therapeutic process provides visual measurements of progress and change as well as provide the client with a sense of accomplishment and empowerment.

During art therapy, drawing has been shown to act as an emotional buffer, allowing children to describe in detail the events of their abuse. Drawing taps into the storage of traumatic memories, providing children with the communication tools needed to talk about their abusive experiences. The descriptions and meanings a child assigns to a drawing are the only possible accurate interpretations that can be made.

The CAC has a Master’s level Art Therapist trained to offer these services to young child victims.