Creative Arts Therapies

Creative Arts Therapies

About

The Creative Arts Therapies team helps patients and families support their mind, body, and emotions using creative methods. The team includes Art Therapists and Music Therapists.

Key Benefits

Art and music therapy allow children to express feelings without words. Therapists work with patients, siblings, and caregivers to:

  • Help express difficult feelings.
  • Increase body awareness.
  • Manage symptoms without medicine.
  • Provide support during grief.

To find out if Art Therapy or Music Therapy is available on your child’s unit, please ask your care team.

Art Therapy

Art therapy is a method that uses the creative process of making art to help people improve their mental and emotional well-being. It combines making art with counseling, guided by a trained Art Therapist.

How It Helps

The goal is to help you feel better and understand yourself more clearly. Art therapy can:

  • Improve focus and physical skills (like coordination).
  • Boost self-confidence and self-awareness.
  • Reduce stress, anxiety, and sadness.
  • Help you express feelings without having to use words.
  • Assist with coping skills and solving personal conflicts.

You don't need any art experience to benefit from it.

Who Art Therapists Work With

Art therapists support patients and families dealing with various challenges, including:

  • Coping with serious illness or injury.
  • Managing symptoms (sometimes instead of medicine).
  • Supporting families through difficult times.

Music Therapy

Music therapy is a health service where a trained therapist uses music to help people with their physical, emotional, and thinking needs. It's a proven way to feel better and reach health goals.

Benefits of Music

Music therapy can help you:

  • Move your body better and speed up physical healing.
  • Express feelings when words are hard.
  • Feel calmer and reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.
  • Manage pain without relying on medicine.

Who is it For?

  • Ages: From preterm infants to adults.
  • When: Offered Monday through Friday.
  • Where: Therapists help people staying in Milwaukee and Fox Valley Hospitals.

Support Creative Arts Therapies 

You can help our Creative Arts Therapies by donating online. Choose “Other” for the gift type and write “Creative Arts Therapies.”

Check out our wish list for supplies the program needs.

Creative Arts Therapies Internships (Graduate)

Children's Wisconsin offers graduate-level internships in Art Therapy and Music Therapy.

Art Therapy Internship

  • When: September 2025 – May 2026 (Two semesters).
  • Time: Approximately 20 hours/week on-site.
  • Deadline: April 11, 2025.
  • Requirement: An Affiliation Agreement must exist between your university and Children's Wisconsin before you apply.
  • Experience: Work as a medical art therapist with children/teens in areas like Intensive Care, Oncology, and Mental Health.

Learn More and Apply

Music Therapy Internship

  • When: One year duration, starting every September (one intern accepted annually).
  • Time: 40 hours/week (full-time).
  • Deadline: December 1st (of the year prior to the September start).
  • Requirement: Must be enrolled in an AMTA approved program.
  • Experience: Leading individual and group sessions with infants, children, teens, and caregivers; collaborating with the full hospital treatment team.

Learn More and Apply

Questions?