Creative Healing through Art

The knock on the door was not one Alan Pottinger expected. Alan is an Activity Therapist on the Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatient Unit. About 15 kids ages 12 to 17 live on the unit at any one time. When Alan first met the young man who was knocking, his anger was so great, he was escorted by a half-dozen city and hospital police officers. On this day, several months later, he had simply stopped by to say hello and thank-you.

“When a teen leaves Bellevue, we can’t always be sure how being back in the community will unfold. This young man had come in with such tremendous anxiety, fear and an inability to regulate himself that was so profound it took time before he was able to feel safe,” says Alan. Creative Arts Therapy was first an important outlet and then a route to his recovery.

Alan is joined on the unit by supervisor Milica Ramirez and two interns, Carla Parks, a musician, and Jeffrey Howard, a videographer. Their goal is to provide a multi-faceted Creative Arts Therapy program. Stipends for the Activity Therapy interns are underwritten by donations to Children of Bellevue.

“In art, everyone can create something,” Alan remarks. “Music, movement, writing, drawing, storytelling are just some of the ways in which our kids begin to express their feelings and inner conflicts, and that is when we can begin to reach them. Jeff’s video program is especially great because it’s a new technology that interests them.” Alan’s surprise visitor had begun by creating a sculpture, which sometimes will represent experiences its creator has insufficient resources to express directly.

Gifts to Children of Bellevue also support a steady stream of neighborhood trips, special evenings, abundant art materials, and other rewards for modifying behavior. Kids must participate in their treatment plan and meet conduct standards to take part. This support has helped the Psychiatry staff to significantly decrease the time that kids are hospitalized.

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