What is Expressive Arts Therapy, Anyway?

So there I was, 15 years old, scrolling the Psychology Today search results for local therapists. Face after face saying they did XYZ and all kinds of things I’d never heard of. I’m not sure what I was looking for. Frankly, I was only looking so that I could choose someone and not my parents. 

Mid-scroll, I saw the words “expressive arts therapy.” Making art had always been how I expressed myself, how I processed my experiences, where I felt safe to be my truest self. I remember thinking, art and therapy can go together!? I worked with that same therapist for the rest of high school, and the space she held for me became another place where I could discover my truest self, through artmaking, and through her collaboration and support. And now, here I am, over a decade later, an expressive arts therapist myself.

You might be wondering: What even is “expressive arts therapy?”

A discipline with many definitions, here is one: expressive arts therapy is the intertwining of artmaking, creativity, and imagination with traditional forms of “talk therapy,” inviting clients to engage with various art forms—such as visual art, writing, music, and dance/movement—in a way that feels authentic to them. Whether based in the arts (both making and experiencing), the senses, and/or the natural world, engaging with expressive arts therapy “is a process of discovering ourselves through any art form that comes from an emotional depth” (Natalie Rogers, The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing).

If you’re saying to yourself, but I’m not an artist…is expressive arts therapy still for me?

Expressive arts therapy is for everyone! Whether you are someone with an established creative practice, or someone curious about (re)connecting with your creativity and exploring artmaking within the therapeutic process, expressive arts therapy is individualized to integrate the art materials of your choice, to the extent of your choice. The emphasis is on the creative process, not the product or end result, and on discovering how your creativity can support you in your expression, growth, and healing.

Well, are there any benefits?!

Research has shown that engaging in artmaking can be both self-soothing and self-expressive, offering various materials (visual art, writing, music, etc.) with which to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences. When integrated with a therapeutic process, the expressive arts can foster healing through the exploration and at times reimagining of memories and personal narratives. Making art can also be a process of meaning-making, and remaking meaning, of our experiences.

Engaging in a creative process encourages presence and mindfulness through engagement of the senses, and of one’s body in the moment. An expressive arts therapist will offer choices of materials as well as their supportive presence. Making art can be vulnerable, and the pace is always dictated by the client. In this way, expressive arts therapy invites clients to use their agency and make self-empowered decisions, first within and then beyond the therapeutic space.

What happens in an expressive arts therapy session?

As with other therapeutic models, every expressive arts therapist is different, as is every client, as is every session. The creative process is often similar. While we develop certain routines and habits, we are always meeting ourselves in the moment. And that moment is an opportunity to connect with ourselves and the materials/images/sensations we are drawn to.

Expressive arts therapy is both intermodal and multimodal, meaning that art materials can be engaged with in sequence and/or simultaneously. That sequence can be spontaneous or planned, directive or organic. Here is an example of an expressive arts activity (please read through the entire description before engaging):

Gather the materials of your choice. This activity begins with bilateral drawing. You will need paper, the size and color of which is your choice, as well as drawing materials of your choice. Start with one or two pieces of paper, depending on the size, and a drawing material for each hand. You can stand and/or sit, and listen to music and/or the noises around you.

For about five minutes (or the length of a song, or the amount of time that feels right for you), draw with both hands simultaneously on your paper(s). Try to focus less on creating specific images than moving your hands simultaneously. Breathe along with your drawing. Move your body with your drawing. If certain movements feel exciting, explore them. Approach the paper from a different angle. If you notice patterns emerging on the page, continue them until you feel ready to shift. Speed up, or slow down if needed. If you feel comfortable, close your eyes. There is no right or wrong here. This is an opportunity to listen to your body and tap into the moment. 

If a strong emotion arises during this experience, be present with what is emerging, and always feel free to pause if needed, to step away and drink some water. Continue if and when you feel ready.

After about five minutes, slow your drawing until you reach a comfortable place to stop. If there is music playing, consider pausing it. Spend a few minutes/moments with your drawing, and this creative experience thus far. Are there images emerging in the patterns, in your mind? What are you feeling in your body? 

This is a moment where you could continue moving, with or without music, exploring and embodying these images, and/or continuing with what your body is feeling. You could also continue this experience in writing, in the form of a poem, a free write, or a reflection. 

Most importantly, these are mere suggestions. One of the most exciting elements of artmaking is the surprise, which can also be a risk. When engaging in artmaking during an expressive arts therapy session, the therapist is there with you in the moment, for collaboration and support. When engaging in creativity and artmaking on your own, it is important to listen to your body, mind, and heart. Take it slow. Step away if needed. Make up your own activity. This is your process, and your life. This post here is merely a place to start.

(PS: One last piece to consider, if you try this activity, is how you will continue caring for yourself once you have resumed the rest of your day. Which could include connecting with a loved one, cooking a nourishing meal, spending some time outside, or taking a nap. In my opinion, it’s all creativity).

If you are curious about Expressive Arts Therapy, book a complimentary consult to see if it feels like a good fit!