Open Studio Art Therapy at Butler Hospital
by Emily Whetstone

This presentation will define open studio art therapy. It will explore the benefits
and limitations of open studio art therapy, focusing on the addition of an open
studio art therapy group to Butler Hospital’s cognitive behavioral therapy partial
hospitalization program. Among the many programs offered at Butler Hospital,
the cognitive behavioral therapy partial hospitalization program (CBT PHP) is a
short-term intensive program that focuses on the use of CBT skills in the
alleviation of psychiatric symptoms. The addition of open studio art therapy to
this program was intended to increase clients’ ability to process information and
to provide space for expression and relaxation. This presentation will share
Emily Whetstone’s personal experience in adding open studio art therapy to
Butler Hospital’s CBT PHP.