Awad Alyami, Ph.D. Saudi-ATR-BC.Associate Professor of Art Education/Therapy

King Saud UniversitySupervisor of The Art Therapy Unit, CRC Dept., Rehabilitation Hospital

King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), Riyadh

The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as follows:Art Therapy is based on the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing. Through creating and talking about the process of art making with an art therapist, one can increase awareness of self, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, enhance cognitive abilities, and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of artistic creativity. " AATA. 2008"

Self Expression. Raise self-esteem. Build self confidence. Coping Skills. Adjustment Strategies. Recreational outlet. Family adjustment avenues. Creative problem solving & cognitive skills. Physical awareness and sole searching (Examine

feelings about what is happening to them)

Adults with psychosocial and physical disabilities, and as a result of illness or treatment side effects.

Stroke, SCI, TBI, and Pediatric oncology with patients who experience psychosocial problems and physical discomfort.

Family members with adjustment problems to a family member with cancer or/and disability.

A team of clinically trained art therapists. A team with a unique local and

international experience with pediatric and adult rehabilitation.

Full support of Professional International Art Therapy Organizations.

At KFMC, extensive training for 12-18 months as OJT.

No local accreditation body recognizing art therapist yet…….(in discussion with SCFHS).

Spinal Cored Injury

1 2 3

45 6

TBI

Assessment through art: Children

Pain. Loss of hair. Separation . School. Long hospitalization. fatigue. Fear. Adjustment problems. Mental & physical side

affects. anxiety.

Pediatric Onc.

Simple lines, bright colors, and primitive shapes give the artwork a decidedly childlike quality, but the scenes the young artists portray are disturbing—a floating house, a person jumping from a burning airplane, a sinister bee that drinks blood.

The art that these young patients and children of patients create is “a window into the less-conscious mind,” said Estela A. Beale, M.D., a child and adult psychiatrist and associate professor in the Department of Neuro-Oncology at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The premise behind art therapy—using a young patient’s art for a psychotherapeutic purpose—is that creating pictures allows children to express what is uppermost in their minds more genuinely and spontaneously than they are apt to do in a discussion with the therapist. “What is really important is to let the children express themselves without any influence from an adult,” Dr. Beale said.

Pictures help the therapist understand the children’s perceptions and feelings about what is happening to them and explore possible alternatives to solving problems, Dr. Beale said.

Sometimes the child’s art expresses this information quite graphically, but often the young artist’s thoughts and feelings are “concealed, disguised, or expressed metaphorically,” Dr. Beale said

Example of

Programs

@KFMC Rehab

Qualified Art Therapists:MA in art therapy or a higher education

Diploma in Art Therapy. Not otherwise.Experience and extensive training in medical

rehabilitation in an accredited health institute. Not Qualified Art Therapists:

PsychologyArt EducationArtistsOccupational TherapistsK-12 teachers.They may be able to do arts but not art therapy

@The Rehabilitation Hospital

KFMC

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Teamwork

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