Advantages

Disadvantages

Art Therapy

・ Performed capable of being distractor

・ Expressive space for children as well as a medium of communication that is able to describe the condition of children’s anxiety during hospitalization

・ Can reduce tension

・ Also giving a relaxing effect on the body

・ Can provide emotional stimuli in the limbic system that occurs in the hypothalamic control of maladaptive behavior

・ Therapeutic in itself because client gives symbolic shape and form to feelings

・ Can serve to express fears which children find too frightening to talk abou

・ An active therapy―clients regain sense of control over healing

・ Materials cost money and must be managed.

・ Requires an appropriate setting, especially for fluid media.

・ Some populations (e.g., older adults) may not see the relevance of artwork to their problem

・ Requires more planning to incorporate into information-giving or highly directive counseling modes

・ It can not increase ability to explore and practise children’s social skills

・ It can not help children to make friends and learn about their ever expanding world

Play Therapy

・ It provides a safe space for emotional expression

・ helping to empower the child and learn how to express their thoughts and feelings in constructive ways

・ It fosters decision-making and acceptance of responsibility

・ It facilitates the development of problem-solving, coping skills and resilience

・ expanding the awareness and self-esteem and increase the relationship of trust between the patient and health care workers

・ It encourages confidence and concentration

・ It fosters imagination and creativity

・ It supports emotional healing and growth

・ Play therapy can be seen as a distraction to the actual problem.

・ This type of therapy has positive short term effects, but it may be harder for the abuse victim later on in life. The victim may suppress the abuse using play therapy but eventually the memories will come back as they grow older (not always, but more often than not)