A M A N DA ’S E A S E L CREAT IVE ARTS THERA PY

PROGR AM

Providing art, play and music therapy for children

affected by domestic violence.

Amanda Easel Office Phone

732.787.6503

Domestic Violence Hotline

1.888.843.9262

Sexual Violence Hotline

1.888.264.RAPE (7273)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Texting Available

732.977.2832 (M -F 9:00-5:00) or 732.977.2766

(evenings, weekends & holidays)

2ND Floor Youth Helpline

1.888.222.2228

180 Turning Lives Around, Inc.

1 Bethany Road

Building 3, Suite 42

Hazlet, NJ 07730

732.264.4111

Amanda Easel Office Phone:

732.787.6503

www.180nj.org

is supported in part by a PALS (Peace A Learned

Solution) grant from the New Jersey Department

of Children and Families. PALS is an evidence-

based nationally recognized therapeutic program

model that provides counseling and creative arts

therapy for children who have witnessed domestic

violence. Amanda’s Easel is a comprehensive

creative arts therapy program for children ages 4 -

14, and their non-offending parent, who have

been affected by domestic violence. Clients

participate in art, music, play therapy, and

counseling in small groups and in individual

sessions. Non-offending parents attend sessions

with a focus on parent skill building and

comprehensive case management services.

180 Turning Lives Around empowers

survivors and families affected by domestic

violence and sexual assault to find the

courage and strength to turn their lives

around.

180 supports this mission through:

⎯ 24/7 hotlines; including the 2ND-

FLOOR Youth Text & Helpline

⎯ E mergency Safe House

⎯ Counseling

⎯ L egal advocacy

⎯ Crisis Response Teams

⎯ Family Justice Center

⎯ Art, play and music therapy for children

Special thanks to the Friends of

Amanda Foundation and Karen

Wengert, Amanda’s mother, for

partnering with 180 Turning Lives

Around to create the Amanda’s Easel

Creative Arts Therapy Program.

A M A N DA ’S E A S E L

Children are the silent victims of family

violence. They often cannot express their feelings

about the traumatic events in their lives using words

alone. Children who experience the stress of living in a

violent home often display negative behaviors, such as

hitting, tantrums, crying, or becoming quiet and shy. The

Amanda’s Easel Program helps children heal from the

affects of domestic violence by encouraging them to

express their feelings in a safe and nurturing environ-

ment. The goals of the program are to help families

strengthen self-esteem, develop coping skills, improve

communication between parent and child, and help

break the cycle of family violence.

Children who live in violent homes often show signs of:

⎯ Poor impulse control

⎯ Verbal or physical aggression with peers and/or family members

⎯ Low frustration tolerance

⎯ Feeling sad, depressed or anxious

⎯ Physical complaints without signs of sickness

⎯ Poor school performance

⎯ Low self esteem

⎯ Acting like a “little” adult or younger than their age

Amanda ’s Easel can help parents:

⎯ understand the effects of domestic violence of

child’s development

⎯ Recognize post traumatic stress symptoms

⎯ Cope with divorce, separation and loss

⎯ Deal with the changes in family status roles

Creative Arts Therapy Services At Amanda’s Easel, children participate in art, play,

and music therapy with highly trained Master’s level

therapists. Drawing pictures, telling stories, playing

with puppets, and moving to music are some of the

ways children in Amanda’s Easel are able to share

their feelings in a safe, nurturing environment.

Art Therapy: Clients are encouraged to express

themselves using drawing, painting and sculpture in a

studio setting. Through creating art and discussion,

clients can gain increased self- awareness and learn

to cope with stress and traumatic experiences.

Music Therapy: Clients use musical experiences such

as improvisation, singing, song-writing, composing,

listening, and music-assisted relaxation. This

intervention helps children grow towards healthier

patterns of thinking, forming relationships and im-

prove their ability to express feelings and manage

stressors.

Play Therapy: This intervention children problem-

solve and communicate complex feelings in ways

that they often do not have the words to express.

The play sessions utilize toys and games specifically

chosen for their therapeutic value such as, sand tray,

puppets and objects that promote safety and healing.

Play therapy provides a place for the child to develop

and practice new skills and cope with difficult is-

sues.

“Safe with Mom”

Girl, Age 10

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