Christopher Kilkenny
Mental Health Counselor
About Art Therapy
Art is a great way to bring activity, reflection, and emotional expression into the experience of therapy. Art therapy can be combined with a variety of theories and approaches to help with many concerns. For example, attention to the body and physical sensation is an important aspect of many therapies including mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapies, Gestalt therapy, and others. The breath is a particularly important aspect of body awareness because it helps us be aware of our emotional state and may also help increase calmness. The pastel painting above was done by drawing lines with each breath, and the overall image expresses the feeling of air flowing with the breath. Thus, art therapy is a way to be more aware and expressive of your feelings, both physical and emotional.
Click here for instructions on a combination of art awareness and appreciation with mindfulness: image meditation.
Here are a few more examples of themes in art therapy with examples from my own art practice:
Often therapy involves dissolving internal barriers and conflicts so you can feel more at peace with yourself. It can also help dissolve barriers and conflicts with others.
You don't need any special ability in the arts to enjoy or benefit from art therapy. Sometimes just playing with color can be therepeutic. Also, if art brings up negative thoughts or feelings such as self-judgement, these thoughts and feelings can be processed within therapy to help you let them go.
Art therapy is a great way to express and process painful feelings. Finding a healthy way to express painful or negative feelings can be an important way to change these feelings.
Art therapy can include many mediums including photography. Nature is also therapeutic for many people, and photography can be a great way to connect with nature.
Other mediums include music and dance. I have decades of experience in dance and music including songwriting, guitar, voice, and percussion and can work with you using many mediums.
Getting in touch with feelings in the body and being able to express them is an important aspect of therapy.