The Use of Arts in Counseling: Supporting Positive Outcomes for Clients
The arts, whether it be music, painting, dance, or any other form, are universally understood and cherished means of human expression. Incorporating these in the therapeutic context offers clients a creative outlet that can complement traditional therapeutic techniques (Malchiodi, 2005). Through the arts, emotions, memories, and experiences that might be difficult to verbalize can be communicated, explored, and understood. The inclusion of arts in counseling has been an invaluable tool, aiding the therapeutic process by providing clients with alternative modes of expression and understanding.
Enhancing Self-awareness and Self-expression. One of the primary benefits of integrating arts in counseling is the enhancement of self-awareness and self-expression. Artistic modes offer multiple mediums for clients to express feelings and thoughts (Kapitan, 2010). For instance, a client who might find it challenging to articulate their feelings of grief or trauma might find solace and understanding in painting a picture or composing a piece of music. Such forms of non-verbal expression can often reveal deeper layers of the client’s emotions and experiences that even they were not consciously aware of. It is important to note here that I am not saying a client should be able to make a next-level painting or write a song– the focus on the arts in counseling is about the process–how the materials and the textures can support the development of the client’s narrative, enhancing their ability with metaphor and sensory integration.
Providing a Safe Outlet for Traumatic Experiences. Trauma can be deeply rooted, often manifesting in ways that are challenging to verbalize. The arts provide a safe and controlled environment for clients to process traumatic events without the need for direct verbal confrontation (Malchiodi, 2005). For example, through drama therapy, clients can externalize and confront traumatic experiences by acting them out. Such re-enactments can provide the distance needed to deal with trauma without re-traumatizing the client. If you want to learn more about the arts in counseling, I highly recommend Cathy Malchiodi’s training on trauma-informed expressive therapies. She knows how to make the abstract of art into the practice of counseling and psychotherapy. I love learning with her : )
Strengthening Therapeutic Relationships and learning about safe connection. For some, verbalizing vulnerabilities can be immensely challenging. Art provides a non-threatening medium to approach these vulnerabilities. For example, through metaphorical representations in visual art or drama, clients can confront and address their fears or traumas without explicitly naming them. This safeguarded exploration offers a gentle approach to accepting and showing compassion towards one’s vulnerabilities (Malchiodi, 2012). The inclusion of arts in counseling can bolster the therapeutic relationship, which is crucial for positive therapeutic outcomes. Engaging in a shared art activity, such as creating a collaborative art piece, can foster trust and rapport between the therapist and client. Such shared experiences allow the therapist to gain insight into the client’s world while simultaneously building a stronger therapeutic bond (Hinz, 2009).
Art provides a non-threatening medium to approach these vulnerabilities. For example, through metaphorical representations in visual art or drama, clients can confront and address their fears or traumas without explicitly naming them. This safeguarded exploration offers a gentle approach to accepting and showing compassion towards one’s vulnerabilities (Malchiodi, 2012). Also, as a reminder to new counselors, I always let my students know, there is nothing more important than the relationship in counseling. Remember that you may be the first person your client has ever had a sense of safety with; making art is a vulnerable process; the arts can help your client lean into the moment–explore this in the moment experience–there is much in the way of learning and healing here.
Improving Cognitive Functions and Problem-solving Skills. Art activities can stimulate brain areas related to cognitive functions, decision-making, and problem-solving (Stuckey & Nobel, 2010). For clients dealing with cognitive impairments or wanting to enhance cognitive abilities, arts can offer structured yet flexible exercises that challenge and improve these skills. Creative writing and drama therapy enable clients to craft and retell their personal stories. By revisiting and reframing painful or traumatic experiences, clients can view these narratives through a lens of strength and resilience. Changing the perspective of their stories fosters self-compassion as clients recognize their inherent worth and ability to overcome adversity (Pennebaker & Seagal, 1999).
Learning self-compassion and empathy. Artistic expressions, such as drawing or writing, allow individuals to externalize complex emotions. By projecting these feelings onto a canvas or paper, clients can witness their emotions from a more objective standpoint. This process offers an opportunity for validation, as the very act of creation acknowledges the existence and legitimacy of one’s feelings. Recognizing and validating one’s own emotions is a crucial step towards self-compassion (Neff, 2003a). The very act of creating art is an empowering experience. Completing an artwork or a performance provides clients with a tangible result of their efforts, boosting their self-esteem. This sense of accomplishment, coupled with the therapist’s validation, reinforces the client’s sense of self-worth and encourages them to treat themselves with kindness and compassion (Rogers, 1993). Further, group therapy that involves shared artistic activities can create a sense of community among participants. Witnessing peers expressing similar struggles or feelings through art diminishes feelings of isolation. Understanding that one is not alone in their experiences can bolster self-compassion as clients realize that suffering is a shared human experience (Neff, 2003a).
Surviving capitalism and building resilience. The arts offer marginalized individuals an avenue to reconnect with their cultural roots and traditions. By engaging in culturally significant artistic practices or by creating art that reflects their cultural narratives, clients can reclaim and celebrate their identity. Such endeavors counteract the erasure and negative portrayals often experienced by oppressed groups, promoting pride and self-worth (Allen, 1995). Artistic expression provides a medium for clients to confront and represent their feelings, fears, and beliefs. By externalizing these internalized stereotypes through art, individuals can reflect upon, question, and challenge these detrimental narratives. Visual arts, for instance, can capture the complex layers of one’s self-concept, prompting a dialogue on the sources and validity of such beliefs (Kapitan, 2010). Also, arts inherently promote mindfulness — a focused awareness on the present moment. As clients immerse themselves in their artistic creations, they can distance themselves from internalized negative beliefs, allowing space for reflection and self-compassion. This compassionate perspective can catalyze the deconstruction of internalized oppression (Neff, 2003).
References
Hinz, L. D. (2009). Expressive therapies continuum: A framework for using art in therapy. New York: Routledge.
Kapitan, L. (2010). Introduction to art therapy research. In Art therapy research (pp. 1–18). Routledge.
Malchiodi, C. A. (2005). Expressive therapies: History, theory, and practice. New York: Guilford Press.
Neff, K. D. (2003). The development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2(3), 223–250.
Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. (2010). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 254–263.
Yalom, I. D., & Leszcz, M. (2005). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (5th ed.). Basic Books.
