Bush’s highly successful program in Miami-Dade County, began as a pilot program after she recognized the indicators of cognitive and emotional problems that were surfacing in the artwork of many students. It became a catalyst for forging a new frontier in schools, as there were no other art therapy programs that were being offered. Her tenacity and professionalism convinced the decision-makers that art therapy in school settings was a desirable intervention.
Bush emphasizes that every school in the USA has a population of children who can benefit from art therapy but that need is not being met. She goes on to explain that it will take art therapists to create a need for their services through education, marketing, and promotion.
School art therapists will have to:
- identify their role
- select appropriate functions
- plan programs of services for students, parents, teachers, and school administrators
- strengthen their professional development
- aggressively pursue action
- and continually evaluate their effectiveness in the educational environment
Commentary by Janet Bush, EdD, ATR-BC
This video was formerly included in the Expressive Media Arts Therapies Films Collection distributed by Expressive Media Inc.
