Photo by Elena Mozhvilo
Among the many different kinds of creativity out there, art therapy is both popular and recognizable. How many times have you heard somebody say they pursue painting or sculpture because it’s therapeutic?
After all, self-expression is an intuitive way to unload anxiety and other things bottled up in the heart. The book Dry Your Eyes, Girl tells just as much (and why the author reaches out to anyone embarking on a healing journey after childhood abuse).
It begs the question, though: How does the power of art therapy actually work?
Both seem highly complicated (with one being more than the other to some people). However, the basic idea doesn’t really change. Art is the means by which trauma is shared, understood, and expressed.
That is a very straightforward way to start healing from abuse. Art therapy works by creating a safe space where people, especially child abuse survivors, can explore difficult emotions through various art forms that they find fun.
Whether it’s drawing, painting, sculpting, or even storytelling, people externalize what they’re feeling inside. It gives those feelings tangibility and is, thus, easier to process.
Over time, these creative expressions help uncover hidden patterns and reframe painful memories in a healthier way. Combined with professional guidance, art therapy has been instrumental in helping people find their voice in contrast to when they had none in the aftermath of trauma.
The Power of Art Therapy Comes in Many Forms
Like other mental health professionals, the goal of an art therapist is to help trauma survivors overcome emotional pains on their journey to recovery.
But of course, like art itself, this can come in many forms. These include not only visual art but also music, theatre, and even comedy.
Now, that range of options can certainly be dizzying to many people (especially those already weary of the things they’ve been through).
Yet, on the other hand, it is all about affinity. Try going through this really short list of art forms and simply ask yourself which one attracts you.
Painting and Sculpture
It is the art form that plays with color, shape, and form. Through these, associated emotions can be explored, or difficult memories can be shared. It also attracts many who prefer non-verbal expression.
Poetry and Prose
Whether it is by journaling, verse, or even writing a screenplay, these are the arts for those who want to use words to confront their pain. Even if they don’t feel confident in finding words, they at least desire to.
Music and Dance
These are the arts for those who want to express themselves through sound and movement. It combines exercises of the mind and body in ways that literature and the visual arts cannot.
Whichever you choose, you can be sure that at least one of these has got your attention. Many trauma survivors tend to flock to any of these by default. It is one of the driving reasons why the link between creativity and trauma healing continues to be a focus of mental health research.
Reemphasizing Recovery
Of course, one major misconception about various forms of art therapy is the idea that such people are ‘trying too hard’ to improve their skills to overcome their trauma.
Assumptions like this (often from those outside looking in) ignore a major goal of the process, which is healing. The power of art therapy is in fostering abuse recovery. And as such, it really takes time. Matters of whether the person is actually making something award-winning are really not worth discussing during the early (or even middle) stages.
Rather than critiquing, good art therapists will always use their understanding of a particular form to help victims get a bigger perspective on what they’re expressing.
Much like the process of recovery, the artistic process is often more important than the final product. The act of choosing colors, forming shapes, or constructing scenes can reveal emotional layers that may not be possible with plain, verbal therapy.
The focus is not on technique or aesthetic value but on insight, validation, and finding closure. It is also common for therapists to revisit a piece of artwork with a client at later stages so as to reflect on progress and a change in emotions. For survivors of abuse, this kind of affirmation can be life-changing, especially when trust has been broken, or self-worth has been eroded by traumatic experiences.
Using Art to Commemorate the Healing Journey
Photo by Markus Winkler
Perhaps a more appropriate way to see the power of art therapy is in how it empowers survivors to create something that celebrates their healing journey. Often, at the start, they do not have all the skills and tools to share the things they’ve buried in themselves.
So when they then find some affinity with a certain form of art, a means to open up becomes available. The best part is that they have now also made something that will help them preserve the memory of their recovery.
If you’d also like to see a little example of how writing and publishing helped a person on their healing journey, then don’t forget to check out Dry Your Eyes, Girl. It’s available on Amazon!
