Art Therapy

The art therapist uses art to improve your physical and emotional well-being.

Art therapy includes drawing, painting, sculpture, clay modeling, and a variety of other creative outlets. The focus of art therapy within a physical rehabilitation hospital is to work with individuals through creating artwork as an addition to existing care, in an effort to further promote successful rehabilitation.

Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. Art therapy integrates the fields of human development, visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms), and the creative process with models of counseling and psychotherapy. Art therapy is used to assess and treat anxiety; depression; social and emotional difficulties related to disability and illness; trauma and loss; physical, cognitive, and neurological problems.

Additional benefits include:
• Promotes self-expression and relaxation
• Promotes management of pain (physical and/or emotional)
• Reduces stress and/or anxiety
• Increase self-esteem and coping skills
• Compliments physical, occupational, and speech therapy goals by working on fine motor skills and cognitive stimulation via communication in sessions
• Provides a creative outlet through art making process

Art therapy is a master’s level profession where therapists are trained as clinicians to assess and treat for a person’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Training includes:
• Psychological theory
• Clinical training
• Human development and research
• Cultural, historical and spiritual art traditions
• Art practice

Art therapy services at Magee include individual and group therapy sessions as well as sessions working together with occupational, physical, speech, and recreational therapies. Before starting art therapy, know that a background in art is not required. This service is provided free of charge to Magee inpatients and Health and Wellness Center members. It is also available fee-for-service to outpatients. For more on this program and to engage in the supportive role of creativity and art in your life, please contact:

Julie Nolan, MA, ATR-BC
Art Therapist
Magee Rehabilitation Hospital
1513 Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-587-3424
julie.nolan@jefferson.edu

Katie Durr, ATR-BC, LPC
Art Therapist
Magee Riverfront
1500 S. Columbus Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-218-3900
katie.durr@jefferson.edu

Art Therapy is supported, in part, by the Hess Foundation, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and by individuals, corporations, and other foundations.