Presenter: Keiola N. Geraigery

Faculty Sponsor: Marc Mannheimer

School: Northern Essex Community College

Research Area: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A80

ABSTRACT

This study explores how art therapy influences anxiety in children ages 5–10, a developmental stage when many are still learning how to identify and express their emotions. Children in this age group often experience anxiety but lack the language to explain what they feel, making traditional talk‑based approaches difficult for them to engage with. Art therapy offers a developmentally appropriate alternative by using creative activities such as drawing, painting, clay sculpting, collage, and mandala coloring to help children express emotions that might otherwise remain unspoken. These techniques support children in different ways: drawing and painting allow them to externalize worries through imagery, clay work provides grounding sensory input that reduces physical tension, and mandalas encourage calm, focused attention through repetitive patterns. Children ages 5–10 respond well to these methods because their brains are still developing the neural pathways involved in emotional regulation, and hands‑on creative activities activate areas linked to sensory processing, calmness, and self‑soothing. The role of the art therapist is essential, as they guide the child gently, create a predictable environment, and help them express meaning connected to their artwork without pressure or judgment.

By reviewing existing research and practitioner insights, this study examines how therapeutic sensory engagement, symbolic expression, and structured creative routines contribute to reductions in anxiety symptoms. Hopefully, the findings will suggest that art therapy supports emotional regulation, decreases distress, and helps children move toward a calmer, more secure state, offering hopeful possibilities for continued growth and future research.