Art therapy

Children experiencing hospital stays are often confronted with thoughts, emotions and fears they may find hard to communicate.

Art therapy provides a safe and welcoming environment for your child to process what they’re going through and express themselves – with caring art therapists to guide them.

What art therapists do

With extensive training in studio art materials and methods, as well as psychology, counseling and more, our art therapists open pathways for your child to communicate visually rather than verbally.

Art therapists provide your child with an outlet for expression, growth and healing through the process of creating art.

Benefits of professional art therapy

Our art therapy program is led by art therapists with a minimum of a master’s degree in art therapy, and some hold advanced degrees, certifications and licenses in related fields.

Expressing feelings about illness, medical treatment, stress or traumatic experiences – through the creation of art – can benefit you, your child and family by:

• Normalizing the hospital environment
• Regaining feelings of a sense of control
• Supporting communication between patient, family and providers
• Enhancing cognitive abilities
• Promoting problem-solving
• Aiding physical and emotional healing
• Facilitating coping through diversion
• Increasing awareness of self and others
• Developing personal imagery
• Exploring metaphor and meaning
• Providing nonpharmacological pain management

Requesting art therapy

Our art therapists work with patients of all ages from toddlers to young adults. They work at the bedside, one-on-one, in small groups and at outpatient clinics.

If you believe your child or teen could benefit from art therapy, don’t hesitate to request an art therapist visit.

Talk to your health care team (physicians, nurses, social worker, chaplain, child life specialist) or call the Child Life, Creative Art Therapies and Education Department directly.

Oak Lawn
708-684-4142
(Internal x42-9146)

Park Ridge
847-723-3729
(Internal x21-3729)

Art therapy internships

We offer art therapy internships to current graduate-level art therapy students seeking fieldwork as part of their curriculum. Our art therapy program at Advocate Children’s Hospital doesn’t provide shadowing, volunteer or other internship opportunities.

Applications are due by Feb. 15 in any given calendar for the following fall-spring semester.

If you have questions about an art therapy internship or you’re interested in completing an official application at either of our campuses, please contact the appropriate supervisor.

Park Ridge
Summer Brunson, MA, LPC, ATR
Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Art Therapist
Advocate Children’s Hospital
1775 North Dempster St.
Park Ridge, IL 60068

847-723-3729
summer.brunson@aah.org

Oak Lawn
Lori Mackey, DAT, ATR-BC
Board-certified registered art therapist
Advocate Children’s Hospital
4440 West 95^th St.
Oak Lawn, IL 60453

708-684-4142
lori.mackey@aah.org