What the heck is art therapy?
Ah, the million-dollar question.
Think of art therapy as a creative blend of art and psychology. It’s a space where you’re invited to use art materials (yes, all kinds of them!) but not to create something “perfect” or even “good” in a traditional sense. Perfection is not the goal here. And if perfectionism shows up along the way, as it often does, that becomes something we can gently explore together.
Art therapy is less about making “art” and more about what happens while you’re making it.
What Happens in an Art Therapy Session?
In a session, you’ll be invited to use art materials, but you get to choose what feels right for you - drawing, painting, collage, simply making a mark.
After creating, we may talk about:
What you made
How it felt to make it
Thoughts, emotions, or memories that came up
Patterns you notice in the process
Sometimes the artwork leads the conversation. Other times, the experience of creating is the most important part. Art becomes a starting point for deeper understanding, not a product to be judged.
Art vs. Art Therapy
In most settings, art is often evaluated as “good” or “bad. In art therapy, we gently shift away from that idea.
Here, we focus on the process rather than the product.
We might explore:
Your expectations before creating
Moments of self-judgment or pressure
Emotional reactions while making art
Patterns that show up in how you approach the task
Often, the way you create mirrors the way you move through life. These patterns can offer meaningful insight into relationships, emotions, and coping styles.