Sloth Goes to the Hospital

Written by Art Therapist Stephanie Fazekas, MA, ATR Illustrated by Art Therapist Olivia Stuber, MPS, ATR-BC, LPC

This book was created to offer a tangible resource to patients and families that introduces the creative arts therapies at CHOP. The intention of this book is to offer education about these creative modalities, while also promoting normalization and adjustment to the hospital experience. It also provides an index of information pertaining to how these resources can be accessed and utilized at CHOP.

A sincere thank you to the creative arts therapy and child life teams for supporting the creation of this book, as well as to Lou Stuber for his tireless creativity and knowledgeable assistance with graphic design.

Sloth is going to the hospital for the first time. The hospital is a place that can take care of you when you are sick or hurt. At the hospital you might meet doctors, nurses and other special hospital workers who are there to help you heal.

When Sloth thinks about the hospital, something inside of him starts to feel funny. Sloth’s stomach hurts and his palms feel hot. He feels dizzy and sometimes gets a headache. Sloth is nervous about going to the hospital, but does not know how to share how he is feeling. Sloth hopes to meet someone at the hospital who can help.

Koala is the first hospital worker that Sloth meets. Koala is a child life specialist, which means Koala knows all about why Sloth is in the hospital. Koala works with doctors, nurses and other hospital workers to help make Sloth feel safe and happy. Koala answers Sloth’s questions about the hospital and uses safe medical tools and toys to help Sloth understand what his hospital stay might be like.

Koala is very helpful and also provides games to play. Sloth’s stomach still feels funny, but Sloth is happy that Koala is with him. Koala tells Sloth that there is a playroom in the hospital, too. “A playroom! Can we see it?” Sloth asks. “Of course,” Koala exclaims. “Follow me!”

In the hallway, Sloth meets Llama and sees that Llama has a lot of art supplies. Llama has paint brushes, markers and crayons. “Are you an art teacher?” Sloth asks.

Llama smiles. “I’m not an art teacher, I’m an art therapist! I am part of the creative arts therapy team here at the hospital,” Llama explains.

“I help patients express their thoughts and feelings through art. There is no right or wrong way to make artwork here at the hospital. I am here to help as you draw, paint, color and create things that are important to you. When you work with an art therapist, you are in charge of your artwork!”

“Wow,” Sloth thinks. “I wonder if making art could help me feel better, too.” Sloth and Koala thank Llama and continue down the hall.

Further down the hallway, Sloth hears a sound. Curious to learn more about what this could be, Sloth follows the sound down the hallway and sees Fox playing the guitar in another room. Sloth turns to Koala and asks why Fox is playing music with a patient.

“Fox is a music therapist,” Koala explains. “Music therapists help kids in the hospital express how they are feeling through music. It’s OK if you’ve never played an instrument before! They can talk with you about your favorite music, create songs about your feelings, and help you try out different instruments. When you work with a music therapist, you get to make many choices about the music you make!”

Sloth thinks, “I wonder if music will help me feel better?”

When Koala and Sloth finally make it to the playroom, Sloth sees another hospital worker, Swan, carrying a bag with balls, scarves and ribbons inside of it. “Are you here to play a game with us?” Sloth asks Swan.

“Not exactly,” Swan says. “I am a dance/movement therapist, and my job is to help patients share their feelings through movement and play! Movement can help us tell stories, relax, and find new ways to cope with scary things. The best part about dance/movement therapy is that everyone can join — even if you have never danced before or have a hard time moving! In dance/movement therapy, you get to choose how you would like to move your own body!”

“Would you like to join our group today?” Swan asks. Sloth smiles and agrees. “Maybe dancing and moving will help me feel better,” Sloth thinks. Sloth enjoys his time dancing and moving with other patients. At the end of the session, Sloth is starting to feel a little better about being in the hospital.

When Sloth returns to the room, Nurse Rabbit enters. Sloth starts to feel funny again and decides to tell Nurse Rabbit how he is feeling.

“I have never been to the hospital before. My stomach feels funny and my head hurts. I have so many feelings and I don’t know what to do,” Sloth says.

Nurse Rabbit is kind and listens to Sloth. “Being in the hospital can feel a little scary sometimes. Thankfully we have special hospital workers here to help support you and your feelings. I believe you met some of them today!”

“Would you like me to see if someone from the creative arts therapy team can visit you to help you explore some of those feelings?” Nurse Rabbit asks. “I see that you brought artwork with you from home. It seems like art is important to you. What if I ask Llama to stop by?”

Sloth nods and sighs with relief. The thought of Llama visiting makes Sloth smile. Sloth knows that it might take some time to feel better about being at the hospital, but Sloth feels so grateful that the creative arts therapy team is here to help!

NOTE TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS We hope you enjoyed reading this story with your child and learning about the creative arts therapies with Sloth! On the pages that follow, we’ve provided more detailed explanations about the creative arts therapies, as well as additional information for engaging in these services during your hospital stay.

ART THERAPY Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others; cope with symptoms, stress and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy. They are knowledgeable about human development; psychological theories; clinical practice; spiritual, multicultural and artistic traditions; and the healing potential of art. They use art in treatment, assessment and research, and provide consultations to allied professionals. Art therapists work with people of all ages, and with individuals, couples, families, groups and communities.

MUSIC THERAPY Music therapy is the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems.

Music therapists assess emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities and cognitive skills through musical responses; design music sessions for individuals and groups based on client needs using music improvisation, receptive music listening, songwriting, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance, and learning through music; and participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, ongoing evaluation and follow up.

DANCE/MOVEMENT THERAPY Dance/movement therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual (American Dance Therapy Association 2018). Dance/movement therapy invites children, adolescents and families to use movement, metaphor and imagery as an avenue for expression when words are not enough. Movement can unite the body and mind to enhance quality of life, self-expression and relaxation. Movement can also help us connect to our vitality, which is essential to the health and quality of life of children with illness.

Dance/movement therapists are trained in psychiatric diagnostic assessment techniques, treatment planning and intervention design. Therapeutic interventions are grounded in counseling and dance/movement therapy theory, and facilitated by a master’s-level clinician. Dance/movement therapy helps to encourage self-expression of feelings related to illness and/or treatment by integrating words, experiences and actions. It provides positive body experiences to support self-esteem and body image by activating and integrating the body and mind through movement. A dance/movement therapist’s coursework and fieldwork prepares them for working with a variety of populations and is used with people of all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds in individual, family and group therapy formats.

REFERRAL PROCESS: Do you think your child might benefit from creative arts therapy services during your hospital stay? These services are provided through a referral process by child life and/or medical staff for patients who may be struggling during their hospitalization. You can contact your child life specialist or bedside nurse so they can consult with the creative arts therapists on your unit.

REASONS FOR REFERRAL: Creative arts therapy services provide therapeutic support for patients and families through nonverbal and psychologically safe artistic experiences. Patients may be referred for these services because they are experiencing anxiety, psychosocial stressors or prolonged hospitalization. Patients may also be referred to these services with the intention of supporting coping skills, providing nonpharmacological pain management, offering outlets for expression, and supporting behavioral health needs. Each therapist incorporates their creative modality in a way that is uniquely therapeutic to meet the individual needs of each person.

AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES: While Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is proud to offer art, music and dance/movement therapy throughout the hospital, not all of these services are available on every unit. Please check with your child life specialist to learn more about which creative arts therapy services you may be able to benefit from on your specific unit.

CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY GROUP SESSIONS: The creative arts therapists cover multiple units throughout the hospital in order to best support and meet the needs of patients and families. In order to provide opportunities to a larger variety of patients and families, many units offer scheduled creative arts therapy groups that take place throughout the week in the designated unit playroom. Check with your child life team to see which groups are offered on your unit!