The Unique and Transformative Impact of Art Therapy
By Jasmin Portaz, M.A., LPC, ATR
March 31, 2026
When Words Aren’t the Only Way to Heal.
Therapy is a place to explore, express, unpack, and heal from emotional wounds and mental difficulties we’ve accumulated throughout our lives. When we enter into therapy, we do so with the understanding that we are there to do that mental and emotional work. We are aware that this work is often uncomfortable, and that we may be asked to discuss topics, situations, or relationships that evoke painful memories and distressing feelings. Sometimes the words just flow right out, as if we have removed the wall to a dam that we built, believing it would protect us, but finally understanding it has actually been holding us back from living the way we deserve to live. Yes, therapy can be so unbelievably powerful. But what happens when we don’t know how to access the language, the stories, or the feelings we need to express? What happens when words are too difficult or simply not the right mode of transportation for our feelings? As children, we didn’t have the language to express our every thought or feeling, instead we often turned to a much more primal, intuitive form of expression: art making. But art making is not just for kids, it may be the key to unlocking the therapeutic healing many of us have been searching for.
ART THERAPY, MORE THAN JUST COLORING BOOKS
There are many misconceptions and inaccuracies around the idea of art therapy. This can lead people to believe they are engaging in therapeutic work when that is simply not the case. Further, when any type of therapy is executed by someone who has not been properly trained and is uncertified, there is potential for serious harm. If someone is not trained in art therapy, they may make the mistake of attempting to analyze their client’s artwork in an attempt to uncover something they believe might help the therapeutic process. In the art therapy setting, only the client has the right and the power to interpret what their art conveys. There can be a great difference between things that are “therapeutic” and actual “therapy.” Coloring in a coloring book can feel very therapeutic in the sense that it calms you, allows you to focus on creating something beautiful, and allows you to access your creative side. It is not, however, therapy.
Art therapy is not about creating something beautiful or even something that conveys great meaning. While the work may be beautiful and convey deep, personal meaning, the power of art therapy lies in the process. This process can utilize many different media such as paint, clay, sculpture, textiles, mosaic, origami, poetry, and more. Unlike in the time and belief of Freud, art therapists are not there to analyze, interpret, or offer any judgment on a client’s art. Instead, they are there to help facilitate thought and conversation around the experience of art making. Through this conversation, clients can begin to access parts of themselves that they may not have previously allowed themselves to explore, creating a unique, safe, often very enjoyable way to see themselves and the world around them from a different angle, engage with parts of themselves they didn’t know existed, and find comfort and peace through creative expression.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ART THERAPY AND HOW
Art therapy may not necessarily be the right modality for everyone, though it would be hard to truly know if you didn’t give it a try. There are, however, certain groups or types of people that can greatly benefit from working with an art therapist, including:
Children and adolescents
Those working through grief
Clients suffering from brain injuries or strokes
Alzheimer’s or dementia patients
Individuals working through complex trauma
Those struggling with addiction
People with physical or cognitive developmental disabilities
Many of the people mentioned above might find traditional talk therapy difficult or too uncomfortable to properly open up and work through what they’re seeking to heal. Here, art can surpass verbal language, allowing clients to open up and process without having to directly name or even confront some of these feelings. Through art making, they may find themselves surprised by their own creation, they may feel a sense of release in something they’d been holding on to, or they may find a way to connect their consciousness with their subconsciousness, bringing them closer to understanding the “why” and “how” of who they are. Creating art can open doors to conversations that felt too terrifying to previously broach. Through art, we can create the world as we need to see it, helping us better understand how to interact with it and see ourselves in a more positive, empathetic light. Art can be the safe space many of us struggled to even imagine.
HOW THERAPY CAN HELP
As stated earlier, art therapy can only be done with a certified art therapist. However, if your therapist is not certified in this practice, they can refer you to groups or other art therapists that you can work with in conjunction with talk therapy. You can bring your art therapy creations into your traditional therapy space to help bring your therapist into the inner workings of your mind and healing journey. If you are feeling stuck or stunted in your therapeutic process, accessing different forms of theoretical tools or lenses, such as art therapy, can help open up your healing processes to new outlets, new ways of expression, and possibly a deeper understanding of the self. While working with an art therapist, you can begin to dive deeper into your understanding of your emotional needs, growth, and reimagine the life you lead.
Warmly,
HELPFUL LINKS
Art Therapy Association - About Art Therapy
Australian Psychological Society - The Art of Healing and Healing in Art Therapy
Psychology.org - What is Art Therapy?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line - text HOME to 741741
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, always seek professional help immediately. Please call 911 or the suicide prevention lifeline at 988 or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate care.
DISCLAIMER
The content of these webpages and blogs and information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Seek professional help immediately if you are experiencing a mental health crisis or any other medical condition.