“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way—things I had no words for.” - Georgia O’Keefe
Expressive Arts Therapies utilize creativity, such as drawing, movement, storytelling, painting, collage, or sculpture, to explore and better understand your thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
You don’t need any art skills to benefit from it. It’s not about making “good” art, it’s about using creative expression to connect with yourself in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Why does art help people heal?
Art can help you find words for things that are difficult to discuss, process big emotions, and uncover beliefs or fears that may be hidden beneath the surface. It’s a powerful tool for healing, self-discovery, and growth, especially for anyone who has been told their voice or body doesn’t matter or belong.
Creativity invites you to slow down, listen inward, and express yourself in ways that feel true and freeing.
Art therapy is a powerful, research-supported approach to healing.
How art helps people heal:
Engages the whole brain: Creating art activates both the emotional (right) and logical (left) hemispheres of the brain, helping people process experiences more fully and integrate thoughts and feelings.
Supports nervous system regulation: Rhythmic, hands-on creative activity can help calm the body’s stress response, activating the parasympathetic nervous system (our “rest and digest” state).
Offers a nonverbal path to healing: When trauma or overwhelm makes it hard to find words, art gives people another way to express and process what they’re feeling.
Builds new neural pathways: Making art supports neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections, which plays a key role in healing and resilience.
Increases emotional awareness and self-compassion: Creative expression can help people connect with their emotions, shift internal narratives, and develop greater kindness toward themselves.
Improves mood and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression: Studies show that engaging in art-making can lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels and increase dopamine (the “feel good” chemical).
Enhances mind-body connection: Art-making can help people reconnect with their bodies and physical sensations in a gentle, empowering way, especially important for folks healing from trauma or dissociation.