Art Therapy at Hospital Sainte Anne

One of the most important aspects of my trip was visiting the Hospital Sainte Anne. I got to listen to a French doctor and several art therapists that talked about their art therapy programs in the Expressive Arts Therapy Center of this hospital. Dr. Dubois is the director of the workshops that take place there, and is in charge of picking out the right type of art for each of her in-patients and out-patients to ensure they are on the right path to recovery. She talked to us about how they separate each type of art in different studios. For example, painting has its own studio, as well as, ceramics, writing, music, collage, etc. In America, art therapists usually use intermodal interventions to increase the speed of their clients process due to limited sessions covered by insurances. French art therapists let their clients go at their own pace in their recovery because they are usually covered by their insurance for six months to a year. They also want to ensure that their clients are really connecting to the art, which helps their problems rise to the surface and helps them deal with their problems. Another difference between Paris and America is that in group therapy they do not share their feelings about their artwork with the group. The clients are taken individually into a private room with their artwork where they discuss their art. The therapists like to do this with their clients because the art is very personal with each client and they want to ensure authenticity. I also got to see the archives in this hospital, as well as, their art exhibition where they display patients work. After being in the Pompidou Center ,I felt really compelled by their work and honored to see it. Dr. Dubois also gave us an Art Brut (psychiatrists had mental patients create art because it calmed them) lesson which paved the pathway for the practice of Art Therapy. The women were very passionate when speaking of this amazing practice and were very helpful at giving me advice on my journey into the Art Therapy field. Contained in the archives of the hospital lie important artwork that has been damaged. However, Dr. Dubois and the hospital do not have the funds to cover the cost of restorations. The art is important to the history of Art Therapy, and it is really sad to hear that these paintings are left tainted without tender love and care like everyone would deserve. My group and I are brainstorming how we can have a fund raiser to raise money for this cause and to share our generosity to the hospital and the powerful women we had met. We will notify you when we have figured out the perfect way to fund this cause and how you can help as well. We just pray that we have permission to help these women who have helped us understand the diversity of French culture and how Art Therapy has improved it.