traditional therapy not working for you? try art therapy
So, you’ve tried talk therapy. Maybe for months. Maybe for years. And while it kind of helped, you still feel stuck, like you’re circling the same conversation, trying to figure it out with words alone. While you’ve learned some things about yourself, you don’t feel any closer to having processed past experiences and traumas, and you’re wondering if you’re doing something wrong.
It’s not you. You’re not broken. You may just need to pivot the way you think about and experience the therapeutic process. Some people thrive in a purely verbal space, but for others (especially those that feel disconnected from their emotions or overwhelmed by anxiety), talking about the problem doesn’t always process the problem. Here’s where Art Therapy comes in.
What is Art Therapy, Exactly?
Art therapy is a form of psychodynamic therapy that uses creative processes like drawing, painting, photography, clay, textiles (and many more mediums!), to help you explore emotions, reduce stress, and gain deeper insight into yourself. You don’t need to be an “artist” or “good at art.” You just have to be willing to express what can’t always be put into words.
why traditional talk therapy might not be enough
Our nervous systems don’t always respond to words alone. Sometimes sharing how we feel with words only makes it worse. Our brains are able to minimally express negative feelings and experiences, but our bodies don’t feel any relief. The anxiety, depression, trauma, and stress still live in our bodies; trapped and frozen. When we are living in a state of emotional overload, our brain’s language centers actually begin to shut down, and we end up in a freeze state. That’s why:
You feel numb when talking about your past
You intellectualize your feelings instead of feeling them
You know what’s bothering you, but nothing changes
Art Therapy works around that. It speaks the language of the body, the senses, and the subconscious. It’s somatic in nature, and intuitive. So what does a typical art therapy session look like?
Sessions are highly individualized, meaning that it depends on what you want to work on, and how you want to work on it. However, a typical session might include one or more of the following:
Guided creative prompts to explore a specific memory or emotion
Mindful art-making to calm the nervous system
Independent art making, and then reflective conversation to unpack the meaning behind your art
Most of the time, the art says what you didn’t even realize you were feeling. Or brings a new perspective to your experience and knowledge of the obstacles and stressors in your life.
the science behind it
Research actually shows that creative expression can:
Lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone)
Activate the brain’s reward system (a boost of dopamine!)
Improve emotional regulation
Enhance self-awareness and self-esteem
Basically, it helps you heal in a way that feels safe, gentle, and holistic.
you deserve to heal
If traditional therapy hasn’t been hitting the mark for you, it doesn’t mean you’re beyond help. It might just mean you need a different entry point - a way in that feels less like pressure to perform and more like an invitation to feel (which might not seem totally appealing, but honestly, it’s the only way to process trauma and reduce anxiety).
Art therapy can help you reconnect to yourself in a quiet, creative, and powerful way. If you can’t explain how you’re feeling, or why you are feeling the way you are, (or even if you can but you aren’t seeing therapeutic results), it might be time to try something new.
If you’re interested in trying out art therapy to see how it might benefit you, reach out to schedule a consultation through my contact form.
I can’t wait for you to get started on this journey and start seeing results!
