Art therapy can help create safe space for paediatric patients

 

 

Art can help create a safe space for paediatric patients, an art therapist with Qatar Foundation’s Sidra Medicine has said. Michelle Dixon notes that long hospital stays, painful procedures, and uncertainty about looming diagnoses are some of the reasons why patients with chronic diseases may feel anxious or depressed, especially among child patients.The Child Life Services team at Sidra Medicine provides distraction techniques and emotional support to help them cope with ongoing medical procedures and associated anxiety. According to an article on Qatar Foundation website, Dixon is part of the team and works with paediatric patients to ensure their hospital stay is as comfortable as possible. Manning an art trolley equipped with a range of resources – from painting tools and sculpting materials to woodwork items and craft supplies – Dixon visits patients across the hospital hoping to ease their pain a little.Each child’s needs are different, Dixon says and if a child seems overwhelmed and very anxious, distraction techniques are usually quite effective. And in these cases, she will encourage the patient to draw or engage in an activity of their choice to take their mind off what’s happening around them, such as having their blood drawn.According to Dixon, different forms of art elicit different responses. In some cases, art therapy can also help with pain management. “For instance, if a child is angry or upset, they could choose to pound some clay to release their anger. Something like slime play is very messy and might not be the best option for a child with anxiety, but someone who’s looking to release some stress may respond more positively to something like that. It’s all about assessing what a patient needs in the moment and establishing that trust with them, so they feel comfortable expressing themselves,” she said.Dixon believes it also gives children a sense of autonomy, because they are given the choice to express themselves however they please, even though they are in a situation that is out of their control. According to Dixon, art therapy was especially helpful during the pandemic. “When kids were missing their friends or school, art allowed them to express themselves freely without having to talk about how they were feeling. It also helps normalise the experience for both the children and their families,” she said.For Dixon, the journey to helping children through art is a personal one. While she had always been an artist, she specifically used art to cope with uncertainty during her teenage years, when her father was diagnosed with an illness. “I always believed that art helped me through my experience. So, when I saw art therapy as a career option in high school, I knew it was the right fit for me. Art therapy isn’t just about pretty pictures, anyone can do that – it’s about getting messy, having a bit of fun, and connecting with your emotions,” she added.