Mindscape’s School Art Therapy Programme provides a creative, hands-on and sensory therapeutic intervention to support emotional regulation, self-expression, confidence and engagement in school.
Creative approaches and art-making can offer children and young people a more natural and accessible way to explore and communicate emotions, particularly when they find it difficult to express their worries or experiences through words. Through creative activity, children can begin to develop greater emotional awareness, healthy coping strategies and resilience.
Art therapy can be particularly valuable for children and young people experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties, neurodevelopmental differences and challenges, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), attachment difficulties or developmental trauma. These experiences can affect emotional regulation, relationships, behaviour, confidence and a child’s ability to engage with learning.
For some children, developmental trauma or adverse experiences may leave them feeling overwhelmed, anxious or unsafe, making it difficult to regulate their emotions and respond flexibly to everyday demands. A supportive therapeutic space can provide opportunities to develop greater awareness of feelings, explore experiences safely and build strategies for managing difficult emotions.
Creative and sensory approaches can be especially useful for children with neurodevelopmental differences, including those who may experience differences in communication, sensory processing, attention, emotional regulation or social interaction. Art therapy can provide alternative ways of communicating and engaging that do not rely solely on verbal expression.
The aim is to support children to develop emotional regulation, resilience and more adaptive ways of coping, which can in turn support their relationships, participation and readiness to learn. It can also provide additional support around transitions and periods of change within school.
You can read more about school art therapy programmes on Mindscape’s informative blog. Discussing the benefits and positive evidence of the value of art therapy in schools.
Who might benefit?
Referrals may be appropriate for children and young people who:
- Find it difficult to communicate feelings or worries verbally
- Experience emotional or behavioural difficulties
- Have neurodevelopmental differences or sensory processing needs
- Have experienced ACEs, developmental trauma or disrupted attachment
- Experience anxiety, low confidence or difficulties with emotional regulation
- Struggle with relationships, social interaction or school engagement
- Find transitions or changes particularly challenging
- May benefit from a creative and sensory alternative to predominantly verbal interventions
Flexible delivery
Sessions can be arranged on an individual 1:1 basis, in small groups, or as half-day or full-day school provision, depending on the needs of the school and pupils.
Programmes can be tailored to individual children, targeted groups or wider school wellbeing needs, with opportunities for consultation and collaboration with school staff where appropriate.
For more information contact Mindscape for more details. You can also follow Mindscape on Facebook