Art Therapy and Creative Drama

The Yocum Institute for Arts Education provides the Creative Drama and Art Therapy teachers for our students. It is one of several programs we offer here at John Paul II Center that makes our school more unique and encourages learning using a different teaching method.

Creative drama helps to improve speech and language skills, creativity and imagination, gross motor skills, spatial awareness and relations and the ability to follow directions. Our students also “come out of their shell” during creative drama – some students who are normally shy and reserved find this to be a very non-threatening opportunity to be creative and be fun. Students in the Intermediate and Secondary Classes participate in Creative Drama class each week.

Art therapy teaches our students about different art mediums, and helps develop fine motor skills, works with students with sensory issues, and requires that a student stays on task and follows directions. It is a method for students to be creative and have positive self expression, and is a confidence builder because it is a very accepting therapy practice. All students participate in art therapy class once each week.