Improving Experiences, One Child at a Time
As part of our commitment to increasing mental health accessibility for our patients and in the local community, Driscoll offers Therapeutic Arts services. This program helps address our patients who are in need of mental health care, therapeutic outlet and/or emotional support—an essential part of the healing process, alongside their medical treatment.
Our Art Therapist uses art materials to engage children, adolescents and young adults in creative, expressive and therapeutic art-making during sessions. Interventions used are specially designed to assist patients with:
- Accessing a nonverbal means of communication
- Creating a nonjudgmental space for self-expression
- Decreasing anxiety and/or depression
- Discomfort/pain management
- Emotional attunement and regulation
- Empowerment
- Grief/trauma debriefing and support
- Identifying healthy and effective coping skills
- Increase autonomy and self-esteem
- Processing hospitalization, medical diagnosis, and treatment
- Stress management
- Relaxation
Therapeutic Arts services provide treatment to patients at the bedside and in select clinics. Our Art Therapist works closely with the rest of the patient’s treatment team over the course of their care.
What is an Art Therapist?
Art Therapists are Master’s level mental health professionals trained in visual arts, the creative process, human development and behavior, psychology, mental disorders, counseling theories and techniques, and social, cultural and family issues.
An individual practicing as an Art Therapist must be registered through the Art Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. In Texas, Art Therapists can hold the following registrations/certifications:
- Provisional Registered Art Therapist (ATR-P)
- Registered Art Therapist (ATR)
- Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor with an Art Therapy specialty designation (LPC-AT)
Patients may also be able to receive support from other members of our Behavioral
and Mental Health team.
For more information about the Behavioral and Mental Health Department, please contact 361-694-6434.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing TTY Services: (800) 735-2989
