Awad Alyami, Ph.D. Saudi-ATR-BC. Associate Professor of Art Education/Therapy King Saud University Supervisor 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 months as OJT.  No local accreditation body recognizing art therapist yet…….(in discussion with SCFHS).

Spinal Cored Injury

TBI

Assessment through art:  Children Pain. Loss of hair. Separation. School. Long hospitalization. fatigue. Fear. Adjustment problems. Mental & physical side affects. anxiety. Pediatric Onc.

Printer-friendly versionFrom OncoLog, December 2003, Vol. 48, No. 12 Art Therapy Helps Children Affected by Cancer Express Their Emotions by Karen Stuyck 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:  Psychology  Art Education  Artists  Occupational Therapists  K-12 teachers. They may be able to do arts but not art therapy

@ The Rehabilitation Hospital KFMC We Believe In Teamwork Thank You