MENDING HEARTS
THROUGH ART
ELM Foundation collaborates with licensed art therapists, occupational therapists, and educational institutions to provide access to various support resources. These partnerships also ensure that our programs are informed by the latest research and tailored to meet the specific needs of each child. By working closely with professionals trained in both art and therapy, we uphold rigorous standards.
WHY WE ADVOCATE
By advocating how arts therapy can reach children in a more meaningful way to help facilitate communication and promote healing, we hope to bring awareness that using the arts as therapy can be tremendously successful. However, to date, we feel arts therapy has been greatly underutilized but with our public outreach initiative, we hope to show there are great needs and benefits, especially for children. ​
ELM Foundation will coordinate with private licensed arts therapists to help guide them through the healing process. We will then combine efforts with ELM Foundation educators and mentors to lead classes and workshops in various study areas to enhance the multidisciplinary approach to arts education.
By providing this continued education, we hope to further the kids’ interest in a lifelong love for creation and self expression, with the ultimate goal of planting the seed of the healing power of the arts.
ACCESSIBLE ART THERAPY RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN
We are committed to expanding access to art therapy resources for children across diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Through partnerships with local businesses and community stakeholders, we advocate for the integration of art therapy into broader mental health care frameworks. These resources include art materials, therapeutic spaces, and ongoing support for children and their families.
"I feel I have no voice so this is why I put Tape over my mouth."
— Child, event name here
ABOUT ART THERAPY
What Is
art Therapy?
The American Art Therapy Association describes art therapy as “a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.”
It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self expression helps to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self awareness.
With the guidance of a credentialed art therapist, one can create and reflect on the art process and the results can help increase awareness of self and help cope with symptoms of stress and traumatic experiences.
Who is an
Art Therapist?
Art therapists are highly trained master-level professional clinicians who have expertise in both art and therapy. They possess knowledge about human development, psychological theories, clinical practice, and the healing potential of art.
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Becoming an art therapist involves fulfilling various requirements and obtaining certifications, which means they are experts in using art expression to interpret nonverbal symbols and metaphors expressed through the creative process. This allows individuals to address issues or express feelings in ways that go beyond spoken or written language.
Why Art Therapy for Children?
From very basic family changes to the extreme, the children’s feelings are often overlooked in the process. Adults can sometimes get caught up in the stresses of life themselves and assume the children will be fine. These children are frequently left to accept the changes without an outlet to express their feelings. What this creates is the base for lifelong issues, from anxiety to extreme abandonment feelings and more. These childhood experiences can create major adjustment problems when they become adults. This can be a vicious cycle passed on from generation to generation if not properly addressed
In addition to being an emotional outlet for children, art therapy can actually help them develop and better understand their own feelings. Being angry or hurt is not always easy to describe in words, but a child can put these emotions into a drawing or other art expression. Children may not have the language skills to express themselves, but they still have a voice.