Who is it For and Why Does it Work?
Expressive Arts Therapy is for anyone/everyone!
I have personally worked with clients ages 3 to 103, hailing from over 40 countries worldwide. I have been honored to work with people living with a range of mental health diagnoses, physical health concerns, and developmental differences. I have witnessed the arts transcending verbal language and culture. They are a connecting tool to our individual and collective humanity.
Talk therapy is wonderful (I am trained in this as well); however, it is not always the most effective way to get to the core of the issues we’re experiencing. As humans, we easily get stuck in negative thought patterns/loops. By engaging in new, active ways of healing, we allow for different insights to emerge, and we are able to break out of old patterns.
The arts are also an especially effective way to approach trauma, which lives in our bodies and in our brains (as visual images, sounds, smells, etc.) Trauma often suppresses language, and, oftentimes, we are literally unable to speak about our difficult experiences. By exploring our trauma via body-based sensations and visual imagery, we are able to address issues at their core.
Besides, engaging in arts-based practices is also fun! I emphasize play, curiosity, imagination, and expression in my work. My clients often leave sessions feeling more grounded, more open-hearted, and with a deeper sense of hope.