Addressing Sibling Needs Through Medical Art Therapy Interventions

Hospitals are stressful and fast-paced environments for children who are confined to inpatient stays and have continued medical care. Siblings of medically compromised patients are overlooked and suffer mental health problems due to vicarious trauma, changes in family dynamics and challenges with identity formation. Throughout this paper, the mental health challenges of this population are explored alongside the history of medical art therapy and the uses of applying this strategy with this population. This resource aims in helping siblings of medically compromised patients within an 11-session flexible group to focus on challenges faced by this population. This resource also provides the reader with directives and goals of each intervention to allow understanding and knowledge of how to guide a session facilitated by individuals who are art therapy students or art therapists.