What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT) is a multimodal approach that uses creativity to access the unconscious mind. EXAT is not an art class. It is a therapeutic process where the act of creating (painting, movement, writing, sound) opens a door to expanding ideas, releasing “stuck” emotions, and rewriting your story.
Within these creative expressions lie opportunities to open space to expanding ideas and beliefs. These are stories of possibilities. These are the sounds when meaning is echoed in suffering. We may delight in the surprise that emerges from ones work with the image, the word, the song.
EXAT can take many forms and can be done individually and for any issue including grief, anxiety, anger, trauma, just to name a few. Or it can take place in a group session, where process and healing happen within the group. Finally expressive arts can be a modality that is used in both a training element for professionals who want to build on their own practice or as a team building event or exercise.
“Art gave me words when my voice was stuck.” – anonymous
The Process: What Occurs in a Session?
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The Invitation: We may start with a simple prompt—a color, a sound, or a movement.
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The Creation: You engage with the materials. There is no judgment on the outcome. The healing happens in the doing.
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The Discovery: We look at what emerged. Often, the image or object holds a message or a solution that your thinking mind hadn’t considered.
Who is this for?
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Individuals grieving a loss.
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People seeking personal growth or “finding their passion.”
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Those who find verbal articulation difficult or exhausting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. “Bad art” is often the most therapeutic! We are looking for expression, not beauty.
It can be. Many clients find it connects them to a deeper sense of self or spirit, but it is grounded in clinical therapeutic practice.
Yes. We can guide you to use simple materials you have at home (paper, pens, magazines) to achieve the same effect.