Expressive Arts Therapy falls under the umbrella of Creative Arts Therapies. What makes it unique is its use of multiple art forms (visual arts, music, dance, theater, poetry, writing) to create space for exploration and reflection.
“Expressive arts therapists use a multimedia approach,
at times working with the arts in sequence,
at times using the arts simultaneously,
and at other times, carefully transitioning from one art form
to another within the therapeutic encounter.”
-Karen Estrella
People often come to therapy feeling stuck or unable to imagine a way forward. The arts can expand one's perspective on what feels possible by activating creative thinking, problem-solving, and self-regulation. Through play and experimentation, expressive arts therapy can create openings for new insights, pathways, and ways of being. Art making in this context centers on the process and sensory experience, rather than solely on the final product or artistic skill.
