art from the heart

It's been said a picture is worth a thousand words. When it comes to grieving children, it's worth evenmore. Art can be a window into the inner world of children too young or withdrawn to find the words that adequately expresses their grief over the loss of a loved one. Janelle Goh, a medical social worker with Hoffmann Hospice, said art is a medium through which grieving children may create their way to emotional healing. "Art helps children process feelings of loss and trauma," Goh said. "The great thing is, when it comes to art, there are no mistakes." With healing in ll1ind, Hoffmann introduced Heart Hoffmann counselor Vttnessa Armendariz visits with Isai Castillo during Children's Grief Support group. Art to its weekly Children's Grief Support group. Children and teens who attend the group are given a variety of art supplies and encouraged to share their grief, anger or other emotions through creative expression. Goh said the groups give children a safe place in which to share their feelings and to meet other children who have experienced a loss The camp will be held at Hoffmann's Bakersfield office on Brimhall Road. The art created at the camp will be on displayed at Russo's Bookstore in The Marketplace in January. Emily Dye helps brotherJake with a painting. like their own. "Children who have lost a loved one often feel alone and isolated," she said. "When they hear other kids talking abour those same feelings, they realize they're not so different and not so alone." Because children often say more through art than they are able to articulate, the projects produced by the group are telling, Goh said. Works in progress are carefully stored, completed projects are treated with reverance. The children, particularly those less inclined to chat, eagerly embrace each new project. Inspired by the group's response, Hoffmann will host its first annual Heart Art Camp for children and teens ages 7 to 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2l. The camp will give more local children the opportunity to discover the therapeutic value of art, Goh said. "It's just a visual way of helping kids understand what they're feeling," she said. "It's also a good way to communicate those feelings to parents." Miranda Sanchez shows off her handiwork. Heart Art Camp Open to children and teens ages 7 to 14 who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Hoffmann Hospice 8502 Brimhall Rd., Bldg. 100 Bakersfield, CA Tuesday, December 2 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Art materials and lunch are provided. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited, so reservations ar required. For more information or to make a reservation, call 410-1010. Hoffmann Hospice gratefully acknowledges The Bakersfield Californian for the distribution of this publication in im~!t Ittkttjfitlb lalifornian HOFFMANN HOSPICE 8501 BRIMHALL ROAD· BLDG. 100 • BAKERSFIELD· CALIFORNIA· 93312 • PHONE (661) 410-1010 • FAX (661) 410-1110

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Art Therapy helps grieving children

TRANSCRIPT

It's been said a picture isworth a thousand words. Whenit comes to grieving children, it'sworth even more.

Art can be a window intothe inner world of childrentoo young or withdrawn tofind the words that adequatelyexpresses their grief over theloss of a loved one. Janelle Goh,a medical social worker withHoffmann Hospice, said art is amedium through which grievingchildren may create their way toemotional healing.

"Art helps children processfeelings of loss and trauma,"Goh said. "The great thing is,when it comes to art, there areno mistakes."

With healing in ll1ind,Hoffmann introduced Heart

Hoffmann counselor Vttnessa Armendariz

visits with Isai Castillo during

Children's Grief Support group.

Art to its weekly Children's Grief Supportgroup. Children and teens who attend thegroup are given a variety of art supplies andencouraged to share their grief, anger orother emotions through creative expression.Goh said the groups give children a safe placein which to share their feelings and to meetother children who have experienced a loss

The camp will beheld at Hoffmann'sBakersfield office onBrimhall Road. Theart created at the campwill be on displayed atRusso's Bookstore inThe Marketplace inJanuary.

Emily Dye helps brother Jake with a painting.

like their own."Children who have lost a loved one

often feel alone and isolated," she said."When they hear other kids talking abourthose same feelings, they realize they're notso different and not so alone."

Because children often say more throughart than they are able to articulate, theprojects produced by the group are telling,Goh said. Works in progress are carefullystored, completed projects are treated withreverance. The children, particularly thoseless inclined to chat, eagerly embrace eachnew project.

Inspired by the group's response,Hoffmann will host its first annual HeartArt Camp for children and teens ages 7 to 14,from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December2l.

The camp will give more local childrenthe opportunity to discover the therapeuticvalue of art, Goh said.

"It's just a visual way of helping kidsunderstand what they're feeling," she said."It's also a good way to communicate thosefeelings to parents."

Miranda Sanchez shows

off her handiwork.

Heart Art Camp

Open to children and teens ages 7 to14 who have experienced the loss of

a loved one.

Hoffmann Hospice8502 Brimhall Rd., Bldg. 100

Bakersfield, CA

Tuesday, December 29 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Art materials and lunch are provided.There is no cost to attend, but

seating is limited, so reservations arrequired. For more information or tomake a reservation, call 410-1010.