Expressive Art and Creative Approaches

Expressive arts are the use of various creative modalities in a therapeutic, professional relationship to help an individual through a difficult or stressful situation. Adrian Hill, a British artist, described expressive arts as “engrossing the mind as well as the fingers.”

The emphasis is on the process, not the final product. Using creative modalities can support people to explore their inner selves more fully and can open up new possibilities for self-care and problem solving. People can take these tools and work with them whenever they need to care for themselves even outside of sessions.

These tools could include painting, creating comfort boxes, music or journaling. Expressive arts provide a helpful addition to counselling individuals of all ages.