“Creativity takes courage.” - Henri Matisse
Expressive Arts in Therapy.
Traditional talk therapy allows individuals to process challenging experiences and work towards personal growth verbally. However, there are times when words are not enough (or are beyond developmental abilities). Expressive arts in therapy can consist of various alternatives to traditional talk therapy, including art, sandtray, and movement based modalities. Many of these expressive interventions allow an individual to use symbolic expression, rather than words, to describe their internal experiences and discover new meaning.
Simply put, creative interventions work because our brains are more than the rational/logical/verbal parts. What expressive arts in therapy uniquely offers is the ability to directly access the emotional/symbolic/preverbal parts of the brain. It is the integration of these two contrasting, yet complimentary, hemispheres of the brain that allow us to feel a sense of empowerment within our emotional experiences and our narratives.
The sensory, kinesthetic nature of this approach can also be helpful in providing a sense of grounding and emotional regulation. The process of creating in and of itself can be a self-soothing and cathartic experience. Individuals are able to externalize overwhelming emotions—either onto a page, within the sandtray, or through another medium of expression—allowing them to release some of those strong feelings and find relief. Additionally, research has shown that creative expression can boost serotonin levels in the brain and offers benefits similar to that of meditation by helping us to slow down and practice presence in the moment.
Expressive arts in therapy can offer:
New perspectives and insight through symbolic expression.
Improvement in emotional & behavioral regulation through integration of left/right hemispheres of the brain and sensory experiences.
Cathartic release of strong emotions.
Healing from adverse life experiences.
Improvement in mood.