Expressive Arts Therapy

Historic Use of Expressive Arts

Throughout history all over the world humans have used the arts for self-expression and self-regulation to communicate and connect our emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental experiences. We can find art, poetry, and pottery thousands of years old and be able to make assumptions about what the creator was experiencing when they created it. Various art forms and storytelling have passed down historical facts and events throughout the ages.

Expressive arts therapy combines psychology, psychotherapy, counselling and the creative process to promote emotional growth and healing. 

In Expressive Arts Therapy the therapist will assist the client in seeking clarity and healing by using a unique combination of talk and creative development by incorporating such processes as art, movement, and writing experiences.

Trauma Focused Expressive Arts Therapy 

Trauma Focused Expressive Arts Therapy can assist when trauma has effected an individual’s physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being. The trauma can affect our memory our social engagement and our overall quality of life. There are various levels of trauma and they are experienced differently by different individuals. The sensory-based experience of the trauma can by expressed differently with Expressive Arts therapy whether it be through art, movement, music, writing or other creative modalities; it can be expressed in a way that it cannot during talk therapy. In fact, research shows that often trauma can not simply be treated through talk therapy. 

Expressive Arts therapy gives the individual an opportunity to explore their trauma through modality that opens up parts of their mind and body that does not occur in talk therapy. The focus is most often on the process of creating and not on the finished product. However the finished product is often used during the interaction between therapist and client to assist the client in finding meaning in the process.

Some forms of modalities used within Expressive Arts Therapy:

• Art
• Dance/Movement
• Drama
• Music
• Poetry
• Writing

CONDITIONS TREATED WITH EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY

• Anxiety
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity
• Chronic medical illnesses
• Depression
• Developmental disabilities
• Eating disorders
• Traumatic brain injury
• Posttraumatic Stress
• Social challenges

Expressive arts therapy integrates therapeutic tools and techniques from many different art forms. The combination of a variety of arts-based therapeutic modalities creates a new approach which is distinct from its individual components. An expressive arts therapists relies on their creativity and training in order to decide which modality should be utilized with a client at a particular time.