They usually save the private rooms for people there for longer term problems (ECT) or the one time I was there a psychiatrist with bipolar from far away had come to stay while going off all meds and he was in one. He didn't interact much; now I wish I knew more of what he went through. So I have a chance at one probably if there is one free but it's hard to tell.

My unit is the same; groups are in the dining room and well, so is everything. TV, computer, lounge area is half the room and the other half is tables for eating and groups. It's small but it works. There's a max of 10 at a time. 8 doubles, 2 singles. We don't get enough art therapy either. My first time they were under a huge grant and we had it daily, a few days twice a day but now it is much less often. The OT that runs most groups does some art therapy-ish things but mostly art therapy is just what you get out of messing with the craft things that are around or asking the nurse to let you into the cabinet to get a project. When I was in with severe akathesia I had one day with a 1:1 aide who led us raid the art closet and did crafts with me/us all day. It was a nice part of that stay which mostly was extreme agitation (didn't respond to the first meds they tried or treatment was delayed? I think the dr was off and then it was weekend and a 3 day one so I was there several days before much was done, with my MAOI discouraging anyone from wanting to start something before I saw my own dr) and pacing many miles.