Art as therapy for children

Semester two, 2010 saw Emerge continuing its children’s art therapy group. Titled ‘The Tuesday Art Club’, the group assists children to cope with family violence issues.

The 14 week children’s art group is for primary school aged children who have experienced family violence or situations of disadvantage. Themes such as trauma, grief, loss, coping with change and adversity, self esteem, trust building and boundary awareness are addressed as a way of improving interpersonal skills.

The group has also sought to include children other than those supported by Emerge. Referrals to the Tuesday Art Club have come from a local homelessness service, the primary school and other family violence services.

The program is an extension of the semester one Art Therapy Program. The program received such a positive response from participants that Emerge has continued to run the group in semester two.

The Tuesday Art Club will continue until the end of semester two for 2010 and has again had a positive impact, with the group running at full capacity. The parents are receiving regular feedback from the Emerge Art Therapists and both children and parents have responded positively.

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