LCH is more than just a community health center; it supports the development of even the youngest patients as they work to express themselves through art.

Christian Lopez-Orozco | September 24, 2026

This was the second year that LCH held Art Group Therapy. Funded by a grant, LCH enacted the program for pediatric patients in hopes of preparing them for school. Though the program aims to support pediatric patients, the whole family was invited to participate.

The group was designed to support pediatric patients reach development milestones through art therapy. The group met weekly at LCH West Grove for 6 weeks. The focus was to strengthen communication, develop social-emotional skills, and increase family engagement through creative expression and parent education.

This art group was led by Art Therapist Kathy Hrenko, MCAT, ATR-BC, who developed thoughtful projects and adapted each project to the needs of each participant.

Jhade, a pediatric patient who attended LCH’s Art Group Therapy, has been doing something new: painting more at home. She has been applying the skills she acquired during art group and asking her mother for help with some of her projects.

Mother of Deyvison (pediatric patient), shared that the program was helpful for her child, and she is grateful for the creation of the program. Deyvison enjoys using his art materials after school and continues to get better every day.

Some of the themes discussed in the Art Group Therapy were support systems, such as family, friends, and teachers; emotional and physical growth; and what makes individuals special.

“It was nice to see the participants come out of their shells a bit more each week,” shared David Villagomez, Behavioral Health Counselor at LCH. “Families also learned important skills such as working as a team, making decisions as a family unit, and embracing each other’s differences.”

Many parents in our community lead busy lives; this art group helped those parents set aside time each week to slow down and spend time with their children completing therapeutic activities. Painting, drawing, and other types of art provide so many benefits to those who apply them to their lives. In a world so caught up in technology, art groups like these can help strengthen that inner child in all of us.