The Therapies

What makes this program unique is that four key creative therapies are used alongside each other, providing each child with many ways to express their thoughts and feelings.  

Art therapy

Art therapy at KidsXpress encourages children to develop their thoughts and feelings further by drawing, painting, sculpting and constructing. It differs from traditional art in that the emphasis is on the process of creating rather than the end product. Their work is not judged and art ability is not necessary.

Dramatherapy

Dramatherapy at KidsXpress is not about being good at drama. Instead, it offers the potential to creatively explore and express difficult emotions in a safe and contained way. In the dramatherapy space, children are invited to use various creative processes to explore an issue or feeling. We might create stories, step into imaginary worlds, embody characters, play with small objects or explore real-life experiences through dramatic representation.

Music therapy

Music therapy at KidsXpress is quite different to how most children might experience music at their school or in their community. At KidsXpress, children are not judged on their musical ability, knowledge or experience. Music therapy activities at KidsXpress are tailored each week to support the individual and group therapy goals.

Play therapy

Play is one of the natural languages of children. In play therapy, children participate in structured and unstructured activities that help them express their thoughts and feelings, explore relationships and share their experiences. This kind of therapy allows the child to experience and practice new ways to be within their relationships and life.

The power of the creative arts

Creative pursuits and the arts are fundamental to the human experience, helping us to explain and understand our experiences, respond to our world, and to connect with others. The arts also engage our imaginations, helping us to step beyond our own experiences, to build empathy, and to try new approaches. These precious attributes also mean that the arts have incredible healing potential, particularly when dealing with children whose lives have been impacted by trauma.

Expressive/creative therapies give children the experience of doing, making, and creating to help energise, redirect attention and focus and alleviate emotional stress. Expressive therapies promote active participation, and are sensory in nature, helping children to engage their imaginations, minds and bodies, rather than simply engaging their cognitive abilities.

For children with limited language skills and vocabularies, and particularly for children impacted by trauma who may be unable to put complex ideas and feelings into speech, expression through art, music, play, or movement empowers them to express themselves without the boundaries imposed by words.