Why Expressive Arts Therapy is a Powerful Healing Tool

For centuries, Indigenous healers and shamans have used singing, dancing, storytelling, and creating images as a means of healing. These practices laid the foundation for modern expressive arts therapy, which integrates various art forms to promote emotional well-being. Native American traditions, for example, incorporated storytelling and rituals to help individuals navigate life transitions and understand their place within the cycle of life. Today, expressive arts therapy is recognized as a powerful tool that fosters awareness, encourages emotional growth, and strengthens relationships through imagination.

Unlike traditional art forms that focus on aesthetics, expressive arts therapy prioritizes self-expression and personal insight. The process itself is the key to healing, not the final product. Clients engage with various artistic mediums—painting, music, movement, drama, and writing—to explore unknown aspects of themselves, communicate nonverbally, and gain deeper emotional understanding. This approach can be integrated into different psychotherapeutic models, including humanistic and Gestalt therapy.

Natalie Rogers, daughter of renowned psychologist Carl Rogers, introduced the concept of "creative connection," which highlights the interplay between different art forms in the therapeutic process. For example, expressive movement may influence brushstrokes in painting, which in turn evokes specific thoughts or emotions. This dynamic relationship between the arts helps clients tap into subconscious feelings and experiences in a safe, exploratory way.

A core principle of expressive arts therapy is that the client remains central to the process. With the therapist’s guidance, individuals choose their preferred artistic medium and direct their own healing journey. This person-centered approach aligns with Carl Rogers’ humanistic principles, emphasizing self-discovery and autonomy.

To understand how clients progress through expressive arts therapy, Goren-Bar (1997) introduced the “creative axis model,” which outlines six key stages:

1. Contact: The client first interacts with the art medium, such as touching paints or exploring musical instruments.

2. Organisation: They gather materials and begin structuring their artistic expression.

3. Improvisation: Through trial and error, they experiment with different techniques and styles.

4. Central Theme: The core message or emotional focus of the artwork becomes clear.

5. Elaboration (Variation): The client refines their work, adding depth and personal meaning.

6. Preservation: The process concludes with reflection, storage, or display of the work.

This structured yet flexible framework allows clients to move at their own pace, ensuring a tailored therapeutic experience. Some individuals, particularly those with learning difficulties, may find certain stages more challenging and require alternative approaches to fully engage with the process.

Expressive arts therapy is highly adaptable and does not adhere to rigid rules. A session may begin with drawing and transition into painting or movement, depending on the client's needs. It is often used as a warm-up activity, where clients create lines, shapes, and colors as a starting point for deeper exploration. Group sessions may include written reflections on each other's artwork, fostering connection and shared insight.

By integrating artistic expression into therapy, individuals can access emotions and memories that may be difficult to articulate through words alone. Whether through painting, storytelling, music, or movement, expressive arts therapy offers a profound way to process trauma, discover personal strengths, and cultivate resilience. Ultimately, it is a journey of self-exploration, empowerment, and healing.