A donation from the New Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation is set to strengthen the art therapy provision. \u201cThis is a huge step forward in specialist paediatric medical care,\u201d says Chief Physician Minna St\u00e5hl of the Pediatric Pain Center at HUS\u2019s New Children\u2019s Hospital. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colourful square, triangle and circle stickers are glued to the piano\u2019s keys. The figure notes allow patients over the age of three to play melodies they have created themselves \u2013 their own audio stories. Music Therapist <\/span>Hanna Hakom\u00e4ki<\/b> sits next to them and writes down the compositions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hakom\u00e4ki, who works as a music therapist and psychotherapist in child psychiatry at HUS, sees, for example, children with selective mutism or those who are seriously ill and traumatised, having experienced mental health challenges after becoming ill. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Often, family members are also involved, as the illness of a child affects the whole family. The figure notes on the piano keyboard are part of the story composition method that Hakom\u00e4ki uses in her work. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI tell the children to go ahead and play and I\u2019ll write down what they play. I don\u2019t specifically ask them to play about a traumatic experience or illness \u2013 just to play what comes to mind. That way, fear or anxiety can be captured in a narrative and artistic form.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Art therapies support the national model for pain management<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Music, visual arts and dance movement therapy can be used as a non-pharmaceutical treatment for pain and anxiety. Music therapy has also been used alongside child psychiatry at<\/span> the Pediatric Pain Center of the New Children\u2019s Hospital, which specialises in the treatment and rehabilitation of children with severe acute pain, pain relating to cancer and various pain syndromes, and their families. Music therapy can also be offered to patients with fear associated with minor operations or who are receiving palliative care, for example. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chief Physician at the Pediatric Pain Center <\/span>Minna St\u00e5hl <\/b>is pleased to see how understanding is increasing in somatic treatment of the need to prevent traumatisation associated with painful procedures. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Negative experiences of illness and procedures in childhood can have negative cascading effects throughout life.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are leading efforts to build a national model of pain management for children and young people, including music therapy and soon other art therapies too. So far, the New Children\u2019s Hospital has the only music therapist in Finland who works with children\u2019s somatic diseases. I hope that other children\u2019s clinics in Finland will also be inspired to incorporate art therapies into their approaches in the future. In psychiatry, art therapy has long been part of the treatment of children and adolescents,\u201d she says. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pain is neurobiologically linked to emotions, so working with emotions is key in pain management. St\u00e5hl also works with children and young people who find it difficult to verbalise body sensations and emotions. In such cases, it is important that alternative methods are available. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMusic might be the key for one patient, while visual arts suit another better, and movement is the best option for a third. The aim of expanding art therapies is to provide children and young people with real alternative approaches,\u201d explains St\u00e5hl. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, music allows children to express experiences, memories and emotions in a way that is tolerable, without getting too close to distressing experiences. Parents also find it easier to understand their children\u2019s feelings when they can express them through music and art. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn child psychiatry we work a lot with families. Through art therapy, parents can get in touch with the child\u2019s experiences, which better equips them to help their child recover,\u201d says Hanna Hakom\u00e4ki.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The purpose of music therapy is neither to teach nor to guide<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n The floor of the New Children\u2019s Hospital creaks as Music Therapist <\/span>Reetta Ker\u00e4nen<\/b> pushes a trolley of musical instruments down the corridor. There are rhythm sticks, maracas, a xylophone, a stack of sheet music and a guitar. The latter is usually what she plays during therapy sessions with young patients. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ker\u00e4nen is a music therapist at the Pain Center, and the first in the role. She works with both daycare-age children and young people on the verge of adulthood. With younger patients, for example, Ker\u00e4nen might process a difficult experience by having the patient tell her what to draw and Ker\u00e4nen drawing it. Then the musical instrument trolley enters the picture as sound is added to the drawing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe consider musical elements: whether quiet or loud sounds would suit the image, whether to play happy or sad music,\u201d says Ker\u00e4nen.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The purpose of music therapy is neither to teach nor to guide, although sometimes children learn to play an instrument at the same time. Instead, it is about bringing out the fear and anxiety that is buried in the recesses of the mind in a way that is specific to the child. At the same time, it offers ways to deal with difficult emotions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/span>Art therapies help recipients to express emotions when words fail<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n