Expressive Arts Therapy with Hospitalized Children
For many children, hospitalization is traumatic. This may be due to “the feeling of not be in control of anything, the overwhelming size of equipment, unexplained comfort, and pain” (Siegel, Iida, Rachlin, & Yount, 2015, Background para. 3). Consequently, childhood trauma can result in depersonalization, disorientation, and loss of identity (Siegel et al., 2015). For this reason, the Institute for Health and Healing at California Pacific Medical Center implemented an expressive arts therapy program, termed Healing Sock Creatures, for hospitalized children. This therapy integrates psychotherapy with multi-arts in an attempt to reduce a child’s stress during their time in the hospital (Siegel et al., 2015). Results have shown that Healing Sock Creatures ultimately help to transform a child’s trauma of hospitalization into a corrective emotional experience (Siegel et al., 2015).
Application to Nursing Practice In this study, Healing Sock Creatures created a safe, confidential, and caring environment, which allowed healing to occur on many levels (Siegel et al., 2015). Furthermore, these creatures proved to be a source of stress-relief and comfort for children (Siegel et al., 2015). As a nurse, this would be extremely beneficial. You would have the opportunity to get to know your patients better by them showing and explaining their unique companion, a mirror of their own feelings and experiences. As a result, you would be able to learn about a child’s fears, concerns, and/or misconceptions, which is crucial in helping children deal with their healthcare experience. Moreover, with expressive arts therapy, you would be able to assess a child’s needs and emotional state without directly communicating these concerns, which is often very difficult for children. Overall, with this program, you would be able to positively affect trauma outcomes and make a difference in numerous lives.
Research Experience Outcome This research experience has taught me the importance of nursing research to the practice of professional nursing. Nursing research has an enormous influence on the field of nursing. Research studies, such as the Healing Sock Creatures, aim to capture evidence of efficacy in order to improve current and future nursing practices. This is extremely important because with the evidence obtained through research, nurses are able to provide optimal care, which is a primary goal of professional nursing. Ultimately, nursing research develops knowledge about issues of importance. With this, both nurses and students in nursing programs are able to provide the best quality of care possible.
Personal Opinion In my opinion, expressive arts therapy makes a difference. It provides a way for children to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process (Siegel et al., 2015). Furthermore, it helps hospitalized children accept and understand their illness, disease, and/or treatment, reduce their stress and anxiety, and increase their coping (Siegel et al., 2015). According to one of the children in this study, “all kids should get a Healing Sock Creature in the hospital; it is so nice that you help children in the hospital” (Siegel et al., 2015, Results para. 6). This program not only positively affected trauma outcomes, but it also positively impacted many children’s lives. By gaining confidence and control, children were able to view their lives differently. More importantly, the children were able to let go of their fears associated with hospitalization. In conclusion, I believe that all hospitals should consider an expressive arts therapy program, such as the Healing Sock Creatures, not only to reduce a child’s stress during hospitalization, but also to make a difference in their lives.

References
Siegel, J., Iida, H., Rachlin, K., & Yount, G. (2015, September 14). Expressive Arts Therapy with Hospitalized Children: A Pilot Study of Co-Creating Healing Sock Creatures. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2015.08.006