Art in therapy: The development of a training program to provide an aesthetic experience to foster connections with Asian Indian children

Art therapy is a useful and effective type of therapy for diverse populations in various settings (The American Art Therapy Association, 2005). Children are often unable to articulate their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors verbally due to their level of cognitive and language development. Art expression may be a useful medium for a therapist to understand children's psychological strengths and difficulties. Use of art therapy has been examined with various populations; however, Asian Indian children have not been included in this research. The following is a program that will be used to train therapists working with Asian Indian children in the use of art therapy techniques. The history and application of art therapy will be discussed followed by an examination of the Asian Indian population. Family structure, customs, and other cultural variables will be delineated. Based on this understanding of Asian Indian children, a program will be detailed for therapists to treat this population.