Art Therapy

Art Therapy promotes mental and emotional growth through creative expression.

Julie Billiart Schools' full-time Art Therapists use art to build life skills, address deficits and behaviors, and promote healthy self-expression. Creating a beautiful work of art is not the ultimate goal of Art Therapy, however, it often is a happy result. 

Art Therapy has been proven successful for students with behavioral, emotional, and cognitive challenges. Our Art Therapists use varied resources and mediums to guide students through the creative process as they develop:

• Communication skills
• Eye-hand coordination
• Social skills 
• Self-confidence 

Diane Hughes, Art Therapist at JB Lyndhurst, explains, "Many children on the autism spectrum have intense sensory needs. The process of making art encourages them to touch, see, smell, and hear their creations. For students like Michael, art is also a wonderful way to interact with his peers, practice turn-taking, and develop other social skills in a controlled and familiar environment."

Art Therapy goes beyond verbal communication. Art Therapy is a natural fit for children with learning differences because it helps kids communicate outside of verbal expression. It can help shy or quiet kids “speak their minds” without words. It allows our visual thinkers to explore and share new ideas. Expressing feelings and ideas through art can be a welcome brain break during the school day. 

Art Therapy can help with social skills. Students develop a strong, trusting bond with our onsite therapists and practice interpreting tone, facial expressions, and one-on-one communication with their therapists. 

Art Therapy can help kids connect with their peers. Just like in art instruction, group Art Therapy gives kids a chance to take turns, share materials, and respect each others’ differences and viewpoints. Art Therapy allows kids to practice connection and collaboration in a fun, natural setting. 

Art Therapy can address sensory needs. Art Therapy is well suited for our kids with sensory challenges and needs. Working with play dough, glue, paint, scissors, and other art materials helps to increase tolerance to unpleasant stimuli while encouraging self-stimulating behavior into creative expression. JB’s Art Therapists help kids to channel non-functional or inappropriate behaviors into socially acceptable, creative outlets.