My Experience with Art Therapy

Disclaimer: I am not a professional or licensed therapist. I’m an artist, and this blog is based on my experience and things I have learned through courses and trial and error. This blog is not meant to diagnose anyone with any mental health issues; for that, it is recommended to seek professional support.

I have been doing therapeutic art since my childhood, and I didn’t even realise it!

I’m sure almost everyone had a bucket of crayons and paints in their childhood, which they used to spill out and fill blank papers and walls. Then your parents would come in and scream at you to clean it up and punish you for drawing on walls. Relatable? Well, that was you using art as a form of therapy, self-expression, and self-love. But, as we grew older, we were told by “society’ that colouring and drawing are only for kids, and adults don’t do them. The norms of society made us believe that art was and should only be a part of childhood. But why? Rarely did anyone ask that question, and those who did were not given an encouraging answer.

Obviously, with the millennials and Gen Z entering this world, quite a lot of things have changed. People across the world have started realising the importance of art in their lives.

Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

I am Kritika Jain, and I remained an artist as I grew up. Of course, not everyone wants to become an artist, but everyone can use art as a form of therapy, self-expression, reducing stress, managing anxieties, and other mental health issues.

I’m not an expert in this field, but I have been doing some research, studying some online courses, and completing a few certified courses on art therapy. Today, I’m going to share some of the key things that I have learned to date and my own journey of art therapy since childhood.

But what is art therapy?

What is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art as its main method of expression and communication. It can include drawing, colouring, mandalas, photography, music, dance, collage making, writing, journaling, etc. It is not just a means to express yourself but also to analyse your art and gain access to your innermost feelings and emotions.

While I was doing my first course on art therapy, I was a little confused as the whole course explained art being used to analyse yourself. I had a different expectation before starting the course, and I thought it would include techniques to simply let go and express yourself. I didn’t think about the other possibilities of using art as an analytical method. Later, while doing other courses, I understood there are different types of approaches to art therapy.

Analytical approach – Only licenced and qualified therapists, psychologists, or medical health specialists can use this approach. In this approach, the therapist’s main focus is to give the clients art-based exercises to analyse their wounds, traumas, mental health issues, and disorders, and then give them the necessary guidance to work on the same. It is especially important for those who are not able to communicate their thoughts and feelings verbally. Obviously, it also includes some relaxation methods to reduce stress and other negative emotions, but the main agenda is to analyse yourself.

Relaxation approach – This approach can be used by literally anyone. This approach focuses more on letting yourself loose and expressing your thoughts visually. It can be used by individuals at their homes or to conduct workshops. It is not based on diagnosis, and people who practise such an approach are generally referred to as life coaches or simply artists. You cannot claim yourself a therapist if you don’t have a license or master’s degree in the field of psychology or something similar.

For detailed information, you can enroll yourself in the courses I have mentioned at the end of the blog, or wait till I can write another blog and give you a little more insight on the benefits, techniques, and examples of art therapy.

My journey

Art is absolutely therapeutic for me. It gives me immense joy when I paint, draw, or even think about it. Music, dance, and writing have also been a part of me since my childhood. I used to keep dancing the whole day while listening to music. I remember how I used to just let my body flow and do random movements, and it made me so happy that I’m even smiling while I’m writing this. And the important thing is that I still dance when I’m feeling low, angry, or happy to let out my emotions. It helps me overcome negative emotions and let go of excessive positive emotions.

Even music is very close to my heart. I started to play piano on my tablet when I was around 13 years old because I didn’t want to spend money on buying an actual keyboard. After a few years, my father saw my keen interest in playing the keyboard, and he bought me one. I’m still not an expert at playing any instrument, but I enjoy playing random key notes and getting engrossed in them. The sound of the piano relaxes my mind a lot. It is kind of a de-stressor for me. Just about a year ago, I even realised that I could write my own songs and sing them. It was a wow moment in my life, thanks to my best friend, who has been inspiring me with her beautiful voice and music. Since then, writing my thoughts into songs has become one of my primary methods of self-expression.

Another method that has helped me a lot to unburden my little brain is journaling. I don’t journal regularly, but it is one of the best coping mechanisms to overcome negative emotions. The most common journaling technique I use is brain dumping. When I was a child, I couldn’t share my thoughts with anyone. Ahh, yes, I was kind of a lonely child. But I also liked to spend time with myself, so it didn’t bother me very much when I had no one to talk to. I would simply open one of the many beautiful diaries I had and start venting in it. My diary is kind of my best friend. There are also other journaling techniques like gratitude, affirmations, road mapping, etc. When you try to put down your thoughts in a journal, everything comes together one by one. It doesn’t have to be pretty or include doodles and stickers like many you would find on Pinterest. It does not have to be aesthetic. And you do not even have to worry about your grammar because it’s just for you. It is simply meant to dump your overwhelming thoughts. And keeping up with your racing thoughts makes it quite difficult to actually pay attention to grammar.

Along with a writing journal, I also keep an art journal with me, where I can express my emotions or ideas through art. You don’t have to be an artist to keep an art journal, and that’s why art therapy is for everyone! When you’re feeling overwhelmed, try automatic drawing, where you just draw random lines, shapes, figures, emotions, etc. and fill up the page. It doesn’t have to be perfect; just draw your racing thoughts. When you’re feeling anxious, try painting with music, scribbling, or colouring with your hands. When you need to focus, try drawing coloured mandalas or zentangles. There are so many methods to deal with various emotions; these are just some of those techniques.

In conclusion, art is very therapeutic, and everyone should at least try it sometime. It might not be for everyone. Some might like it, some might not. But there’s only one way to find that out. Try!

Course references:

Alison – Introduction to Art Therapy

Udemy – Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy

Udemy – Therapeutic Art Life Coach Certification (Accredited)