Art Therapy Explained

What It Is, How It Works & Why It Matters

What is art therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses creative expression to support emotional healing, self-awareness, and mental well-being. It is especially effective when words fall short. This can happen during times of emotional overwhelm, confusion, or the impact of trauma. For many people, trauma is stored not just in the mind, but also in the body and in imagery. Art provides a powerful, nonverbal way to express what feels difficult or even impossible to say.

No artistic skill is required. The focus is not on the final product but on the process of expression. Art therapy offers a safe space to explore emotions, reduce stress, and reconnect with your inner world. It is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.

How does it work?
When emotions are too complex, intense, or painful to put into words, art can become a bridge between feeling and understanding. Through materials like drawing, painting, or collage, individuals are invited to create freely. The creative process allows insight to emerge naturally, often revealing layers of experience and meaning that traditional talk therapy may not reach as easily.

For those impacted by grief, trauma, anxiety, or burnout, art therapy provides a gentle, supportive space where healing can begin at a pace that feels safe. Together, we explore the images, colors, and themes that arise, not to critique, but to understand. This process helps people reconnect with themselves, make sense of what they have been carrying, and move toward healing in a way that feels grounded and empowering.

Everyone’s born to create.

Healing through it takes a guide.

“Arts interventions can lower the burden and cost of chronic and degenerative diseases, mental health challenges, addiction, and trauma.”

Art Therapy in Schools in other States

Art Therapy for Athletes

How Art Therapy Can Support Your Team or School

If you're wondering how art therapy could be used to support your team in a business setting, here’s one example:
A mid-sized company began noticing signs of burnout—low morale, increased absenteeism, and high turnover—after a particularly stressful year. Leadership invited an art therapist to facilitate creative wellness workshops as part of a proactive mental health strategy. These sessions gave employees a space to decompress, process stress, and reconnect with themselves and one another through guided creative expression. As a result, communication improved, team engagement increased, and the company began to see stronger retention and workplace satisfaction.

If you're wondering how art therapy could be helpful in a school environment, consider this example:
In a school district experiencing rising anxiety among students and burnout among staff, art therapy was introduced as a healing-centered resource. Students participated in group sessions where they could safely express complex emotions through art rather than words, helping reduce behavioral disruptions and support emotional regulation. Simultaneously, staff were given access to creative wellness sessions that helped them process stress, feel seen, and restore their energy. Over time, both students and educators became more emotionally resilient, and the overall school climate began to shift toward greater connection and support.