Art Therapy

Sometimes, words are not enough, and art can become a vehicle to express one’s feelings. The Art Therapy Program at Riley at IU Health helps individuals, both patients and caregivers, process the most challenging circumstances and emotions. Due to current staffing, Riley Art Therapy is only able to offer services to patients and caregivers currently inpatient at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health.

By exploring their natural capacity for artmaking, individuals can enhance their own mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Art therapists use the creative process to:

• Process physical and emotional healing
• Express feelings about illness, medical treatment, or traumatic experiences
• Provide a sense of control and mastery
• Provide grief and bereavement counseling
• Reduce anxiety and depression while building resiliency
• Foster self-awareness and increase self-esteem
• Increase positive coping and problem-solving skills
• Enhance the overall quality of life

The Art Therapy Program at Riley at IU Health offers services through two master-level mental health professionals. These therapists incorporate artmaking in therapeutic relationships. Art Therapists are educated in both art and psychology and specially trained to use artmaking as a form of therapy to treat anxiety, depression, and psychosocial and emotional difficulties related to illness, trauma, and loss.

The art therapy program is 100% funded by generous contributions from the community through the Riley Children's Foundation. This allows patients and caregivers to benefit from art therapy at no cost.

Requesting Art Therapy

If you feel like you or your child could benefit from art therapy services while hospitalized please request your child's care team to put in an order for art therapy. Our team usually accommodates most consults within 2 business days, so we ask that your child's length of stay be longer than 3 days. If you have additional questions you are encouraged to email us at rileyarttherapy@iuhealth.org.