What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
“The task of therapy is not to eliminate suffering but to give a voice to it, to find a form in which it can be expressed. Expression is itself transformation; this is the message that art brings. The therapist then would be an artist of the soul, working with sufferers to enable them to find the proper container for their pain, the form in which it would be embodied.” Stephen K. Levine
What is Expressive Art Therapy?
No artistic ability needed! It's about the creative process not the artistic outcome. The creative journey is unique to each person, each piece, and each element of healing. The process empowers clients to discover their voice and their inherent ability to heal intuitively.
Expressive Art Therapy combines psychotherapy and creative expression utilizing painting, drawing, sculpting, body movement, psychodrama, music, writing, and play. Expressive Art Therapy enhances personal growth emotionally, physically, and in the mental health of individuals. In Expressive Art Therapy the focus is on the process of creating not the finished product. The therapeutic process of artistic expression assists the client in processing trauma in a psychologically safe way promoting healing, helping the individual resolve emotional conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, build resilience, increase self-esteem and self-awareness.
Why Does Expressive Art Therapy Work?
At times it is difficult to verbalize emotions and thoughts. Trauma and shame can inhibit the ability to express oneself. Expressive Art Therapy is an intervention that allows the client to express themselves non-verbally in a psychologically safe way.
Who Do Expressive Art Therapists Work With?
Expressive Art Therapists work with individuals of all ages and abilities in individual, family, couples, or group counseling. Expressive Art Therapist receive post master's degree training. They are trained to treat individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, grief, loss, relationship struggles, and more.
Is Expressive Arts Therapy Right For Me?
Expressive Arts Therapy is a unique & effective way to communicate when words are difficult to find and you struggle to express your emotions. Expressive Art Therapy enables us to honestly & safely explore our emotions.
I offer integrative psychotherapy that is trauma-informed, client-centered and attachment-based. I incorporate mind/body/spirit, utilizing expressive arts and other therapies to process traumatic experiences, often times from childhood experiences. I believe that each individual has what they need within them to heal; traumas experienced in life bury this intuitive approach to healing. Pathologizing (giving a label/diagnosis) "what's wrong" with someone is counter-intuitive to healing; when traced back to its origin is often found to stem from traumatic experiences in developmental years. We all internalize implicit and explicit messages, learning how to view ourselves, others, and the world from these experiences; often resulting in negative core beliefs we do not even realize we have. We must change the narrative of trauma and mental health, we must start by asking "what have you survived?"