Why art therapy?

I wish I could say that there was one epiphanic moment that completely altered the course of my life; that I have one mind blowing story that would make you gasp incredulously as you listened on the edge of your seat to every word of the story that beautifully demonstrates how perfectly it all lined up to show me THE sign that this is what I am meant to do.

I don’t have one of those.

What I do have is two decades with a crapload of trial and error that eventually became experience. Through those experiences the common thread was clear: I was truly happy when my work required me to provide joy or ease for others.

Truth be told, I’ve always had a gut feeling about what I should be doing. In times of uncertainty I have absolutely dismissed it and even kept it dormant for years at a time while I flailed, but always, always, always it would inevitably return.

As my creative foundation returned in my late thirties I was ready to embrace it. I explored new mediums of creative expression when I started my small business and again when I began taking art classes. I knew that creativity was a must in a career path when I would sit down with art projects and hours passed as if they were minutes. I could work for hours upon hours with no breaks and still crave more.

Today I’m drawn to art therapy because I believe it is such a useful tool in creating connection - with others as well as with one’s self. For those who have experienced severe trauma there will undoubtedly be trust issues upon beginning therapy. Additionally, the thought of sitting face to face with a someone you don’t know and revealing your most unpleasant memories can feel extremely daunting. Art therapy can serve as an excellent bridge in moving toward more direct communication in talk therapy; it does not require talking or even eye contact, the artist may share what they want, and any emotion can be incorporated the into art. Sometimes, people feel more at ease showing a therapist their experience as opposed to verbalizing it. Art therapy can be a powerful tool in creating a less intimidating journey toward recovery and healing.