“Art is the highest form of hope.” – Gerhard Richter.
These words have profoundly influenced my journey as a therapist. My introduction to arts-based therapy began with a young neurodivergent girl who had faced relentless bullying. Initially, music seemed an obvious choice, given her talent as a singer. Yet, she chose art—scribbles, lines, patterns, beautifully chaotic yet vibrant. One pivotal day, she reflected on her work, stating, “You know, I’m like this art. I’m all scribbles, but it doesn’t mean I’m not bright, colourful, and fun.” This profound realization, born from her own insights, became symbolized by a piece she named “I am Scribbles,” a work that stayed pinned to my desk for years, a constant reminder of the therapeutic power of creativity.
Through her story, I realized art is not merely a therapeutic tool—it can become therapy itself. It provides a safe haven for emotions when words are insufficient. This aligns deeply with the concept of “catharsis,” derived from the Ancient Greek “katharsis,” meaning purification or emotional cleansing, a pivotal concept in drama therapy. Aristotle first articulated catharsis as an emotional renewal experienced through art, particularly tragedy.
But is this emotional and philosophical understanding backed by science? Absolutely.
Creative engagement fosters interaction between the brain’s two hemispheres, enhancing connection, calm, and harmony—a true therapeutic state. Regions like the hippocampus and amygdala, responsible for memory and emotion respectively, collaborate during artistic activities, supporting healing processes. This creative flow triggers the release of dopamine, the brain’s feel-good chemical.
In trauma-informed therapeutic contexts, creativity facilitates neuroplasticity by forming new neural pathways and reinforcing existing ones. Engaging creatively activates brain areas crucial for motivation, emotional regulation, and resilience, such as the striatum, ventral tegmental area, and amygdala.
Art thus bridges the gap between emotional chaos and clarity.
Therapeutic art forms can vary widely:
• Visual Arts (Painting, Drawing, Collage): Externalize inner emotions.
• Movement/Dance: Release stored emotional tension.
• Writing/Poetry: Use narratives and metaphors for deeper exploration.
• Music & Sound: Vibrationally resonate with emotional states.
No artistic expertise is needed from the client; however, the practitioner must skillfully curate each session with intentionality and sensitivity.
Recently, I worked with a young adult grappling with complex traumas, including familial instability and personal upheavals abroad. After fostering therapeutic trust, we revisited her childhood trauma through creative exercises. She engaged with her younger self, offering strength and comfort, culminating in a poignant poem she composed. This poem became a powerful emblem of her inherent resilience, a daily reminder through her phone wallpaper.
I’d like to invite you, dear reader, into a brief reflective exercise:
Sit comfortably, feet grounded, eyes gently closed, hand on heart. Feel your breath rise and fall. Recall a profound emotion you couldn’t articulate. Imagine it vividly—its shape, color, texture, and sound. How might you express this feeling creatively? A painting, a melody, a literary character, a dance, or even the simple flutter of a butterfly? Embrace what resonates deeply.
Cathartic creativity isn’t about artistic perfection. It’s about authentic human expression.
Thank you for exploring this journey with me. It remains an honour to share my experiences, rooted deeply in the formative grounds of psychology, dance, theatre, and meaningful human connections.
About the Author
This blog has been written by Soumini Menon, the founder of Being Brave and an experienced Developmental & Counseling Psychologist. Her practice is rooted in Trauma informed care, neurodivergent & queer affirming and Narrative, Arts based & Somatic therapeutic styles.
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