The Mindset Institute conducts and develops art therapy-type activities in children’s inpatient psychiatric wards at hospitals. The program is implemented under the name “Kaleidoscopes.”
We believe in the fact that the more difficult moments in children’s lives and hospital stays, is a temporary situation and can change like pictures in a kaleidoscope. The name of the class therefore refers to seeing the world in all colors, sometimes bright and colorful, and sometimes darker. Similarly, in life there are easier and more difficult situations. Through art classes we teach children these simple truths. Kaleidoscopes creates a space for safe expression of emotions, relaxation and building relationships with other patients.
We are currently conducting art therapy workshops at the UCK Department of Developmental Age Psychiatry of the Medical University of Warsaw. The classes are attended each time by a group of a dozen children and adolescents under the guidance and support of Mindset volunteers – psychologists, psychotherapists and psychology students. The classes are popular among young patients, detached during their hospital stay from the regular rhythm of school activities.
It should be added that the public budget for such activities in closed child psychiatric wards is very limited, making the offer of classes for young patients in hospitals minimal or even non-existent.
Mindset, after developing and describing an optimal template and handouts for such classes, has plans to expand them to more closed child psychiatric wards in Poland.
Look here and on our social media for updates!
Contact:
Magdalena Mazurkiewicz – Skuza
m.mazurkiewicz.skuza@mindset.org.pl
