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Art Therapy: Expressing What Words Cannot
"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way... things I had no words for."
Georgia O'Keeffe
Art therapy is a soulful method of expression and exploration. It bridges the gap between what we feel and what we can say, allowing colors and forms to speak for our unspoken experiences.
This creative process helps you tap into your intuition, providing a safe space to process trauma, manage stress, and find clarity.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a way of exploring your thoughts, emotions, and experiences through creative expression—not just words.
You don’t need to be “artistic” or have any experience. The focus isn’t on making something that looks "good"—it’s on giving shape to what you’re feeling, especially when it’s hard to explain.
Sometimes emotions live in the body more than in verbal language. Art can help bring those inner experiences to the surface in a way that feels safer, more intuitive, and less overwhelming.
In our work together, art therapy may include simple practices like drawing, collage, color, movement, or symbolic expression—always at your pace and comfort level.
My Favorite Art Therapy Tool:
Art Journaling
Art journaling is one of my favorite ways to combine creativity, reflection, and self-discovery.
Unlike a traditional journal that relies mostly on words, an art journal uses images, colors, symbols, collage, and simple creative exercises to explore thoughts and emotions that can be difficult to put into language.
There is no right or wrong way to create an art journal page. Some pages may contain writing, while others may be filled with color, images, or abstract marks. The focus isn't on making something beautiful—it's on expressing yourself honestly.
Why Art Journaling?
Art journaling can help you:
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Process difficult emotions
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Reduce stress and anxiety
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Explore patterns and beliefs
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Connect with your authentic self
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Build self-compassion
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Work through perfectionism and self-criticism
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Strengthen your creative confidence
You Don't Need Artistic Experience
One of the biggest misconceptions about art therapy is that you need artistic talent.
You don't.
In art journaling, simple shapes, colors, torn paper, stick figures, and scribbles can often communicate more than a polished drawing. The value comes from the process of creating, not the final product.
What Might an Art Journal Page Look Like?
An art journal page might include:
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A collage made from magazine images
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Colors that represent your mood
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Words or phrases that stand out to you
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Drawings, doodles, or symbols
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Reflections on a life experience
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Responses to therapeutic prompts
Every page is unique because every person's story is unique.
How I Use Art Journaling in Therapy
During sessions, art journaling can be used to explore emotions, increase self-awareness, process life experiences, and practice new ways of relating to yourself. The goal isn't to create a perfect page—it's to create a space where curiosity, self-expression, and growth can emerge.
Art journaling is my favorite art therapy tool because it invites us to show up imperfectly. A page doesn't have to be beautiful, finished, or worthy of being shared. It simply has to be honest. Over time, art journaling can become a practice of meeting yourself with curiosity instead of criticism.
And the best part? It is a practice you can take with you outside of the therapy room.
My Journey with
Creativity
I've always been creative.
As a child, I carried around a pencil box filled with drawings of imaginary creatures I had invented. Creating felt natural. I wasn't worried about whether my art was good. I simply loved bringing ideas to life.
As I got older, that relationship with creativity began to change.
In high school, I took advanced art classes and started taking my artwork more seriously. That's also when perfectionism started to take hold. I felt pressure to create things that looked impressive, realistic, or worthy of hanging on a wall. Instead of creating freely, I became focused on creating things that were "good."
The irony is that the more pressure I put on myself, the harder it became to create at all.
I would stare at blank pages, unsure where to begin. I created less and less. Even though art had always been part of my life, I never considered myself a real artist. I believed I wasn't talented enough, productive enough, or accomplished enough to claim that title.
When I did make art, I often copied styles I admired or focused on making things look realistic, which only added more pressure and self-criticism.
Everything changed when I discovered art journaling during a difficult season of my life.
For the first time, I had a place where nothing needed to be perfect. No one was grading it. No one was judging it. No one would ever see it unless I wanted them to.
My art journal became a container for my experiences, emotions, questions, and growth. It gave me permission to play. To experiment. To make a mess. To express myself visually instead of always trying to find the right words.
Through art journaling, I didn't just reconnect with creativity.
I reconnected with myself.
Over time, I developed a style that felt uniquely mine. I learned that creativity isn't about producing beautiful work or proving your talent. It's about self-expression, curiosity, and connection.
Today, my journals are some of my most treasured possessions. They hold pieces of my story that words alone could never fully capture.
As an art therapist, I now help others discover what I discovered: creativity isn't reserved for artists. It belongs to all of us.
You don't have to be talented enough.
You don't have to be creative enough.
You don't have to be good enough.
You simply need a safe space to begin.