In the Service of Children: Art and Expressive Therapies in Public Schools

AbstractThis article describes an intraprofessional collaboration between a graduate program in art therapy and expressive therapies, an urban public school system, and a community mental health agency. It addresses the relationship between the state of society, the state of schools, and the need for community involvement within the schools. The authors examine the important role of art and expressive therapies in providing services to underserved, "at-risk" children in public school settings. It also describes the role of off-site art and expressive therapies' supervisors in educational settings and the development of a handbook to guide therapist trainees in the supervision process. The final section consists of case vignettes which illustrate the use of art and expressive therapies in public schools. This article is part of the following collections: Art therapy in schools