Group Art Therapy in Schools - It's Possible!

​As a parent, educator, or anyone who cares about kids’ well-being, you’ve probably noticed how many children are struggling emotionally these days. The mental health crisis isn’t just a
headline—it’s real, and it’s showing up in classrooms, at home, and in everyday interactions. But a recent study at the Medical University of South Carolina offered a refreshing, hopeful
approach: group art therapy delivered directly in schools.

This isn’t therapy as we typically think of it. There are no couches or long waits for appointments. Instead, it’s a 7-week program* where students come together during the school day with a certified art therapist to process their internal landscape through art—something most kids naturally gravitate toward. In the first year of the initiative, 280 elementary students participated, and the results were powerful. The children showed noticeable improvements in their emotional well-being, especially those who had internal struggles like anxiety or sadness. On average, symptoms dropped by nearly two points, which is significant in clinical terms. What stood out even more was that every child finished the program, and nearly every parent and teacher wanted it to continue. Kids had a safe space to express themselves, and parents felt relief knowing their child was getting support—without jumping through insurance or referral hoops.

This model makes these services affordable and scalable. But more importantly, it meets kids
where they are. In a world where so many barriers stand between families and mental health
care, this model feels not only smart—it feels right.

To see how art therapy can be implemented in your school or learn more about the Creative Arts
Therapy Initiative (CATI) contact MUSC Arts in Healing at [email protected].

*Notes: Since the article, the program has expanded to 10-weeks and has impacted over 1,500
students.
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Source:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/389751837_Addressing_Gaps_in_Pediatric_Mental_H
ealthcare_by_Removing_Barriers_A_School-Based_Integrated_Model_for_Group_Art_Therapy

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Author

Michelle Robinson is the program manager for Arts in Healing the Medical University of South Carolina. Follow the program on socials @muscarts!