Objectives: We describe the use of responsive art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit, including its acceptability rated through a satisfaction questionnaire. Methods: A patient satisfaction questionnaire was developed to collect feedback from 46 adolescents. Images from therapy were photographed and collated looking for patterns across diagnoses and stages of treatment. Results: Adolescents reported that art therapy helped them learn how to express themselves safely (80%) and understand how their thoughts related to their feelings (78%). Conclusions: Responsive art therapy was a useful strategy to support the safe expression of distress and was seen as a positive experience by adolescents in inpatient mental health care.

Art therapy has been increasingly used in mental health settings, particularly for children and families who experience trauma‐induced symptoms. However, there is limited literature on family art therapy in child and adolescent inpatient settings. We describe the use of family art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit, including images to demonstrate effectiveness. Patient and family member artworks were photographed and used to describe three case studies. Artworks made in art therapy can reveal hidden dysfunction in the family. Recent trauma research supports capacity to access this material safely through non‐verbal visual communication. Family art therapy is a useful intervention to support the identification of an illness in the parent, to improve the attunement between the parent and the child, and for the parent to detach from their child’s symptoms by agreeing to get treatment for themselves. If the patient cannot separate from the illness in the parent their symptoms may remain.

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The use of group art therapy, individual art therapy and family art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit will be described, including images and consumer feedback to demonstrate effectiveness. The artworks made in art therapy can reveal hidden dysfunction in the young person and/or their family members. Recent trauma research supports capacity to access this material safely through non-verbal visual communication. Family art therapy has been a useful intervention to support the identification of illness in a parent, to improving attunement between the parent and the child and for the parent to detach from their child’s symptoms by agreeing to get treatment for themselves. If the patient cannot separate from the illness in the parent, their symptoms will persist.