Why Art Therapy?

Why Art Therapy?

I’m glad you asked (she says, pretending that you asked). Here are a few ways that art therapy can be useful.

Expressing yourself

Art therapy offers many different creative ways to explore self-expression that don’t rely on talking and finding the right words, because sometimes we don’t feel like talking, and sometimes there just are are no words.

Through painting, drawing, sculpting, or any other kind of creative play, we can give expression to our inner worlds, getting out of our heads and getting sticky thoughts and feelings out of our heads and bodies and onto paper. It’s a great way of moving through hard experiences, shifting stuck energy, making sense of what we’re feeling and supporting healing and growth through exploring and building our own unique visual language.

Stress Reduction

In the midst of life's overwhelming challenges, art therapy acts as a valuable stress-reliever. Engaging in artistic activities has been proven to alleviate stress and anxiety. By immersing oneself in the creative process, individuals can unwind, release tension, and find a sense of inner calm. It's like taking a mental vacation without packing any suitcases.

Self-Discovery

Art therapy serves as an enriching journey of self-discovery. Through exploring different art forms and techniques, then engaging in various ways with the resulting images, we can unearth hidden aspects of ourselves. Art making provides a way to delve deep into who we are at the core of ourselves - our thoughts, emotions, aspirations, the treasures that can be found in our subconscious.

Emotional Healing

Art possesses a profound ability to heal the soul, and art therapy harnesses this power. Engaging in creative activities with an art therapist can facilitate the processing and healing of emotional trauma, grief, or other challenging experiences. It gives us a way to externalise our emotions, find meaning in our journeys, and navigate difficult feelings. It's like a helping hand to the heart, supporting healing and inner peace.

Enhanced Confidence

Art therapy can also act as a catalyst for developing a sense of self-confidence. The act of creating something tangible with our own hands feels good - not because it looks nice, because what we draw often doesn’t look like conventionally “good” art, but because it’s very satisfying to see our inner worlds on the page in front of us, to feel like we’re seeing and hearing our inner voices, and giving expression to parts of us that don’t often get to be heard.

So if you’ve been thinking of giving art therapy a try, perhaps you’d like to get in touch? Send me a message and we can have a chat about what that might look like.