Art Therapy: A Creative Path to Healing and Self-Discovery 

Are you looking for a non-traditional addition to talk-therapy? Art Therapy offers a unique avenue for self-exploration and discovery, allowing you to express the thoughts and emotions that may not seem possible using words alone. Whether you are already an artist or just interested in creative expression, this form of therapy is a great tool to help you uncover new insights, released pent-up emotions, and foster healing. 

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is defined as a form of psychotherapy that utilizes art and media as a form of expression and communication.¹ The creative process of making art provides us with an alternate route to explore emotions, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. The idea is that using media such as painting, drawing, and sculping allows the individual to captivate and express their soul, body and mind in a way that may be difficult to do verbally.² 

Moreover, Art Therapy is not about performance or creating something “perfect”. It’s about self-expression and exploration in a non-judgemental safe space. 

How Does it Work?

Mental Health Professional 

• Your counsellor will work alongside you to create a trusting environment where you feel safe to express yourself. This non-judgmental space is essential to encourage open and vulnerable self-exploration and expression. 

• In addition, the counsellor will offer you support and encouragement while they aid you in interpreting and reflecting on your artistic creations. 

Client 

• As the client, your primary role is to engage in the creative process. This may include experimenting with different media, techniques, and themes to express your emotions, thoughts, or life experiences. 

• Once you have produced your creations, reflecting on what the artwork represents and how it makes you feel can help to gain insight on emotions, conflicts, or unresolves issues 

Art 

• The art serves as a media of non-verbal expression. It can often be reflected on and interpreted as a symbol or metaphor to help you gain deeper personal insight. There is no right or wrong art to produce, the only requirement is openness. 

Is Art Therapy Right for Me?

Art therapy can be used alone, or in tangent with other therapy modalities. Furthermore, Art Therapy is most commonly applied alongside other methodologies in the treatment of mental health concerns such anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem.³ Additonally, due to its introspective capacities, Art Therapy has also been shown to be effective with emotional regulation, emotion acceptance, and goal-orientated action.² Furthermore, Art Therapy has been used to reduce speed of cognitive decline and improve overall-wellbeing.³ 

Looking to Try Art Therapy?

OK Clinical Therapy Group is proud to offer a diverse team of trained and qualified counselors specializing in Art Therapy to support your healing journey. The list of counsellors offering this service are available here. We offer in-person, phone and online appointments to suit your needs.   

To learn more, click on our OK Clinical Counselling Team to find the right fit for you. You can also complete our online form; we will match you with a counsellor who specializes in building resilience or other forms of therapy.    

If you have any questions, you can call us at 250-718-9291 or email us at info@okclinical.com or chat with us online at OKClinical.com. We are here to help! You can also check out our General Counseling Services, learn about the Types of Therapy we offer, or visit our booking page here. 

Check out these resources to learn a little more about Ar Therapy: 

Hu, J., Zhang, J., Hu, L., Yu, H., & Xu, J. (2021). Art Therapy: A Complementary Treatment for Mental Disorders. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 686005. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.686005 

Shukla, A., Choudhari, S. G., Gaidhane, A. M., & Quazi Syed, Z. (2022). Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review. Cureus, 14(8), e28026. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28026 

Hu, J., Zhang, J., Hu, L., Yu, H., & Xu, J. (2021). Art therapy: A complementary treatment for mental disorders. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 686005. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.686005 

Written by: Cassandra Twiname, Practicum Student

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