Creative Expression as Therapy: The Role of Art, Music, and Writing in Healing
Rebecca Leon, MHC-LP.
Creative expression can be a powerful tool for people experiencing mental health issues. Engaging in art, music, and writing can provide unique outlets for expressing our emotions, creating a pathway to healing that transcends traditional therapeutic methods. These forms of creative expression offer a non-verbal mode of communication, allowing people to explore and process their feelings in a safe and nurturing environment.
Art Therapy
Art therapy utilizes visual arts such as drawing, painting, and sculpting to promote emotional and psychological healing (Cherry, 2024). This therapeutic approach empowers people to express thoughts and emotions they might find difficult to articulate through words. Creating art can help reduce stress, manage anxiety, and improve overall mental wellbeing (Cherry, 2023). Painting or drawing can be meditative, promoting mindfulness and a sense of calm.
Integrating art into therapy sessions can be straightforward. Therapists might provide clients with various art supplies and encourage them to create something that reflects their current emotional state. This process can be guided or freeform, depending on the client's needs. The resulting artwork can then serve as a starting point for discussion, offering insights into the client's inner world and creating a deeper understanding of their experiences (Cherry, 2023).
Music Therapy
Music therapy leverages music to promote healing and wellbeing. Whether through listening, singing, playing instruments, or composing, music therapy offers diverse avenues for expression and emotional release. Music has the ability to evoke powerful memories and emotions, making it a valuable tool for individuals dealing with trauma, depression, or anxiety.
Incorporating music into therapy can take various forms. Therapists might play soothing music during sessions to create a calming atmosphere or encourage clients to express their feelings through songwriting or instrumental improvisation. Group music therapy sessions, where clients create and share music together, can also build a sense of community and shared experience, enhancing the therapeutic process (Cleveland Clinic, 2023).
Writing Therapy
Writing therapy, also known as expressive writing, involves the therapeutic use of writing to explore and process emotions. This form of treatment can help people organize their thoughts, gain insights into their experiences, and articulate their feelings in a structured manner. Writing can be particularly beneficial for those who find it challenging to verbalize their emotions directly.
To integrate writing into therapy, therapists might encourage clients to keep a journal, write letters (which they may or may not choose to send), or compose narratives about significant life events. Prompted writing exercises can help guide clients in exploring specific themes or emotions. Sharing written work in therapy sessions can open up discussions and provide valuable perspectives on the client's experiences.
How Creative Expression in Therapy Can Be Beneficial
Incorporating creative expression into talk therapy can enhance the therapeutic process by offering alternative forms of treatment tailored to clients’ individual needs. While some prefer discussing their experiences as their primary form of self-exploration, others might find greater benefit in activities like drawing or journaling. According to the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA), expressive arts therapy can enhance creativity, provide clarity, and promote deep healing. Additionally, many art-related activities are accessible to a wide range of individuals and can be implemented in various settings with minimal supplies (Cherry, 2024).
Expressive arts therapy can be applied across numerous contexts, including community centers, and with populations such as unhoused individuals, immigrants, cancer patients, patients with dementia, and those in hospice care (Cherry, 2024). Expressive arts therapy has proven effective within various settings, including one study, which found that art therapy was linked to improved cognitive functioning in elderly adults with mild neurocognitive disorders. A separate review also reported that hospitalized children were calmer, seemed less stressed, and experienced improvements in mood after undergoing expressive arts therapy (Cherry, 2024).
Creative expression can be a powerful tool for healing as it allows people to explore and process their emotions in ways that traditional therapy may not. Therapists can provide clients with holistic, enriching, and practical pathways to emotional wellbeing by integrating creative activities into therapy sessions.
Sources
Cherry, K. (2023). What Is Art Therapy? VeryWellMind.
Cherry, K. (2024). What Is Expressive Arts Therapy? VeryWellMind.
Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Music Therapy. Cleveland Clinic.