Introduction

Art has long been recognized as a powerful tool for self-expression and emotional healing. Art therapy combines creativity with therapeutic techniques to help individuals process emotions, reduce stress, and gain insights into their thoughts and feelings. For this blog post, I dedicated one hour to a guided art therapy session using an online tutorial, focusing on creating a piece of art as a way to explore my emotions and relax.

I enjoy drawing and painting, but I usually have a clear goal in mind when I create something. This more intuitive, open-ended approach to painting was unfamiliar to me, and I was intrigued to see how it would feel.

Art as Therapy

I started by selecting a theme that resonated with me. Guided art therapy sessions often use prompts such as:

• Draw your current emotional state using colors and shapes.
• Create a representation of a safe space.
• Illustrate a memory that brings you peace.

I chose a commonly used prompt: „Draw your emotions as a landscape.“ This allowed me to visualize how I was feeling and express it creatively.

Before starting, I set up a calming environment by playing soft instrumental music and creating a clutter-free workspace. I already had plenty of art supplies, so I decided to work with paper and watercolors.

Of course, I’m not a professional in art therapy, but I did some research and watched videos beforehand. One key takeaway that kept coming up was the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome. At first, it was difficult to let go of the idea of having a predefined goal or direction, but as time went on, I found myself getting into the rhythm of simply creating.

At the end of the session, I looked at my artwork and reflected on what it might reveal about my state of mind. I asked myself:

• What feelings does this evoke?
• Are there elements I didn’t expect to include?
• How do I feel now compared to before I started?

However, the most important part wasn’t trying to interpret the artwork itself but rather focusing on the experience during the activity. What thoughts came up while I was painting? Were there any moments of emotional resistance? Afterward, I took some time to journal my thoughts and answer these questions.

Conclusion

Art therapy is a versatile and accessible way to support mental well-being, and even a single session can offer surprising insights into your inner world. Its strength lies in creating a safe and open space for self-reflection.

By the end of the session, I felt noticeably more relaxed, even though parts of the process brought up conflicting emotions. I’m glad I gave it a try—it was an interesting way to engage with mental health therapy, and it gave me some valuable insights should I choose to explore this further in my master’s thesis.

Links

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdiVQqfXzDU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5YafCERMkU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0dgjSG4CpA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhKL3CuUxNs
• https://arttherapyresources.com.au/art-therapy-session-guide/
• https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/art-therapy/