What is Art Therapy and How Can It Benefit Your Mental Health?

We explore what art therapy is and its potential benefits for your mental health.

Art has a unique way of distilling emotions into a visual form. Think about the anguish that leaps off the canvas in Munch’s The Scream, the tender passion of Klimt’s The Kiss, or the despair of Picasso’s Guernica. Art speaks to us in the universal language of human emotion, and also allows the artists themselves a creative outlet for complex feelings.

While art has always been seen as a form of self-expression, the rising awareness and understanding of mental illnesses means that more of us are turning to art as a way to explore and articulate our emotions. Here we take a look at the origins of art therapy, how it works, and its impact.

In 2022, the theme of World Mental Health Day is “make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority”, which means recognizing its significance alongside physical health, and empowering communities to support each other and find health and resilience.

Access and education around therapy are a key part of this, as a safe place where you can explore difficult emotions can make all the difference. But have you ever considered art therapy as a part of your mental health journey? Let’s dive into this lesser-known path…

What is art therapy?

Contrary to popular belief, art therapy is not simply an art class where you also talk about feelings. It is a form of psychotherapy that encourages people to explore their deepest emotions, enjoy creative expression, and communicate through creative activities under the supervision and guidance of a trained art therapist.

It can take many forms such as painting, drawing, craftwork, collage, or sculpture. You do not have to be “artistic” to choose it as a form of your therapeutic process, but you should be open to experiment and have a willingness to try out new, alternative creative techniques.

Depending on your therapist’s approach (which might be psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, or something else), you might verbally talk through and analyze your art, or you might simply be encouraged to keep creating as you chat about your general concerns.

The history of art therapy

While it feels like a modern phenomenon, art therapy actually dates back to the 1940s. The term was first coined by British artist Adrian Hill, who discovered the psychological benefits of drawing and painting as a therapeutic pursuit while recovering from tuberculosis. He began to give art lessons to his fellow patients, and, later, to hospitalized soldiers from the Second World War.

His work caught the interest of Edward Adamson, also an artist, who firmly believed that both the mind and body should be taken into consideration when receiving any treatment. Together, they were part of a group that first brought Hill’s work to long-stay psychiatric hospitals, before it went on to become a valued profession in its own right.

In the US at the same time, psychologist Margaret Naumberg and artist Edith Kramer were developing their own approaches, and many practitioners around the world have developed overlapping strategies while working with diverse populations such as in-patients, incarcerated people, and the general public.

How art therapy works, and how it can benefit us

The scope for art therapy is broad. It can be used as a form of treatment for many things including, but not limited to, mental health issues such as anxiety, trauma, and depression, social difficulties such as relationship or communication problems, and to help people cope with chronic or life-limiting illnesses.

Art therapy is seen as an extremely beneficial way to release trapped emotions, communicate thoughts that are difficult to put into words, and make sense of your feelings. You could think of it as a way of getting to know and understand yourself better as a whole.

For example, Loretta Napoleoni mentions in the book The Power of Knitting that knitting has helped people with anxiety as it is a very relaxing activity. If you need to disconnect for a while, don't miss our craft courses.

Treatment may take place alongside prescription medication and talking therapies, or as an alternative, depending on the needs of the patient. Remember, you should always seek professional medical advice before embarking on any treatment plan for mental illness, the same as you would for a physical one.

If there’s one thing you should bear in mind before trying art therapy for yourself, it’s to always hire the services of a licensed art therapist. Not just anyone can do this job! Many countries and regions have their own associations, including The British Association of Art Therapists or The American Art Therapy Association, which will either have a list of registered art therapists or can advise you on your search. They also provide training if you yourself are interested in the profession. Outside of these bodies, you can also often find local workshops in your city, where you can connect with new people and try out art therapy in a group setting.

Like “regular” therapy, the relationship you have with your art therapist should feel secure and comfortable. After all, this is not an art class, and your sessions may sometimes bring up strong or uncomfortable emotions that need to manifest themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

While art therapy is not for everyone, it has shown some promising results in several studies conducted on people with mental health issues, including a reduction in stress and overall levels of depression, and an increase in self-esteem.

If anything, its growing popularity is a reminder to us all of the importance of looking after our minds as well as our bodies, and of seeking professional support for ourselves or loved ones, in whatever form that may take.

Updated by @lauren_duplessis. Illustrations by @maja_dabek for Domestika.

Express yourself through an art practice with these resources

1. Ever wanted to create an illustrated life journal? Learn how to document your daily life and express your feelings on paper with this course by Kate Sutton.

2. Get a free sneak-peek at how to start your own journal in this explainer.

3. Read these nine books to help boost your mental health as a creative.