Mainstream, Special Needs & Pupil Referral Units

Art therapy is an excellent and viable alternative to talking therapies and is being increasingly used in educational settings as a powerful and valuable tool, with huge benefits for the vulnerable individual and the whole school community.

Pupils Who Would Benefit From Art Therapy

As an Art Therapist in a school setting I work with children and young people experiencing a wide range of problems. These may present as: Withdrawn, anxious, moody, or violent and disaffected.

Children and young people may be struggling with issues such as:

• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Bullying
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Anger issues
• Trauma
• Self-harm
• Eating disorders
• Selective Mutism
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Bereavement and loss
• Attachment difficulties
• Family breakdown
• Domestic violence
• Illness

Art Therapy is also most useful in helping with: Hearing Impairment, Learning Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Physical Disabilities and Dyslexia.

A General Guide to how a Consultant Works

A parent/carer, teaching staff or other appropriate professional can refer a child, however, written permission must be given. Teenagers are able to refer themselves.

Parents/carers and the school would be expected to share relevant background information on the child and family.

There will be an initial assessment period for 6 weeks, during which time a decision will be made whether or not to continue. Beyond that there may be further ongoing assessment.

The Art Therapy session is private and whatever is said remains confidential. However if for safeguarding reasons, the Art Therapist feels the child is not safe, then information may be shared with other appropriate professionals. The child is always consulted when this happens.

Sometimes it might be a positive step to involve a parent/carer in some of the sessions if that’s what the situation needs.

The Art Therapist and school staff would liaise on a more or less regular basis dependent on the needs of the case.

The Art Therapist usually writes a report for the service commissioner once the therapy has ended or at the end of the school term, whichever comes first.

Time Scales for Working in Schools

The time it takes for working therapeutically with children and young people can’t be measured with complete certainty. It is always going to depend on particular needs. Children and young people will often struggle with life changes, go in and out of phases, and deal with issues that are easier for one child than another. Each child’s therapy will be decided on need and progression.

Individual Art Therapy: once a week for 50 minutes dependent on the child’s age

Short term Art Therapy: 6 – 10 sessions once a week

Long term Art Therapy: for 6 months or open-ended

Group Art Therapy: once a week, for 50 minutes for a full school term

What the School Needs to Provide

A self-contained room free from interruption to ensure privacy and confidentiality for individual or group work

A sink and running water where possible

Secure storage space

Art materials table and chairs

Appropriate referrals system

Liaison time with key staff, relevant professionals, parents and carers

Staff Information Workshops

If you would like to find out more about Art Therapy and how it could be of value to your school, why not have a workshop for your staff as a part of their CPD? It would be a 2-hour program that includes an experiential element to help staff really understand the benefits of Art Therapy and how it works.

Staff Supervision

I would like to offer school staff a chance to offload some of the concerns they are often carrying. Schools are highly pressured environments and some of the burdens teachers may be carrying, are in addition to academic and management concerns. Sometimes these burdens are alarming, bewildering or just too much to carry alone at that moment. I would be a confidential listener and offer advice if appropriate, particularly when it comes to thinking about the children.

Student Placement & Supervision Services

Offering Art Therapy students a placement in your school benefits both the school and the student.

Students on placement are expected to take on a similar caseload to a professionally qualified Art Therapist. Placements typically last for one academic year, during which time the student would learn how to deliver Art Therapy in an educational setting, while benefits for the school are a professionally supervised service, helping to bear more of the caseload, for minimal cost.