art therapy activities at home

Health , Lifestyle

20 art therapy activities you can try at home to destress.

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso

Art therapy is a broad term used to refer to the practice of creating as a way to heal wounds of the mind or spirit. While art therapists are employed with increasing frequency at hospitals, nursing homes, in schools, and in treatment programs for a wide swatch of ailments, the rejuvenating, stress-busting results of such a practice are something we can all benefit from.

Invite your creative side out to dance with these 20 art therapy ideas you can pursue at home:

Design a postcard.

http://chelswireart.blogspot.com/2011/04/art-therapy-without-borders.html

Give thanks with cards of your own.

Cut and paste a collage.

Make a digital collage.

Draw in response to music.

Bring a motivational message to a colorful life.

Move those magnetic words around.

Bedazzle the box.

Create an affirmation you can carry with you.

Brighten up old clothing.

Color it real.

Map out your heart.

Capture pain in chalk…

Sculpt a better state.

Give art therapy a hand.

Not feeling drawn to the more traditional arts? Try one of these, and continue to reap the healing rewards:

Redecorate a room.

Gather with friends, and create in public.

String prayer or meditation beads.

Rake the sand.

Whether you’re taking a fork to a plate of sand on your desk or hauling a truck full of tools to the beach, raking patterns is a good way to release emotions in an economical, non-permanent sense. Your creation can be a deliberate piece, or simply a series of geometric shapes that help you blow off steam. For an added shot of healing power, work on a large enough scale that the physical exertion required to wield your rake both calms and burns off excess energy or anxiety.

Help something grow.

Need some convincing that art therapy is a good choice for you? Consider these 10 Things You Never Knew You Could Learn From Art.

Featured photo credit: Chalk Drawings at Third Street via flickr.com

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Art Therapy Exercises To Try at Home

I’ve always loved art. Looking at interesting, unique, beautiful-in-their-own-way images and objects always has made me feel alive and happy. As a child and teen, I also loved drawing, painting and creating everything from collages to greeting cards. And I loved losing myself in the work.

So I was excited to learn more about art therapy, where clients create their own art to help them express emotions, better understand themselves and grow in general.

In her book, The Art Therapy Sourcebook , art therapist Cathy A. Malchiodi describes various exercises that readers can try at home. Below are three that I found especially helpful.

By the way, remember that this has little to do with artistic ability or the final product. Instead, Malchiodi suggests focusing on the process, your intuition and play. She writes:

Art making is an intuitive process; that is, it does not depend on logical or rational thought, and it has no rules. When you use your intuition, you simply feel that you know what is right in a given situation… Art making involves a sense of play. Jung noted that, without play, “no creative work has ever yet come to birth.” … Play is important to adults, too. It is behavior that enables us to feel free to explore and express without self-judgment or inhibition, to participate for the sheer joy of the experience and to think creatively, flexibly and innovatively.

Without further ado, the activities…

Scribbling with Your Eyes Closed

According to Malchiodi, because everyone started scribbling as kids, this is a natural place to start with art therapy. Before you begin, she suggests relaxing for a few minutes, listening to soothing music or meditating. For this activity, you’ll need an 18 by 24 inch paper and chalk pastels (though if you ask me, whatever you have will work).

Tape your sheet of paper to the table (or wherever you’re working) so it won’t budge. Pick a chalk color that you can see. Place your chalk in the middle of the paper, close your eyes and start scribbling.

Scribble for about 30 seconds, and open your eyes. Take a close look at your picture, and find an image (“a particular shape, figure, object and so on”). Be sure to examine your picture from all sides. You can even hang it on the wall, and step back to get the whole perspective. After you find your image, color it in and add details to bring “that image into clearer focus.” Hang up your drawing, and think of a title.

Spontaneous Images Journal

“Making images on a regular basis opens up many possibilities for understanding and expressing oneself,” Malchiodi writes. In your spontaneous images journal, you not only paste or create images, but you also write down a title and a few phrases or sentences about your work. (And date each one.) You can do this daily or several times a week.

The more you do this, the more you’ll “begin to see similarities in a theme, colors or shape” and develop “your own unique way of working with materials and your own images and symbols.”

Self-Soothing Image Book

You can use images to “self-soothe and create positive sensations,” Malchiodi says in her book. For this exercise, you’ll need 10 or more sheets of 8 ½ x 11-inch paper, magazines, colored paper, collage materials, scissors and glue.

Start by thinking about pleasant sensory experiences, such as landscapes, sounds, scents, tastes, textures and anything else that makes you feel tranquil or happy; and write them down. Cut out images that match those experiences out of your magazines and other collage materials.

Then paste those images onto the paper. You can organize the images by composition or textures, the environment and other categories. Pull together all your papers, create a cover and figure out how you’d like to bind your book. (For instance, you can punch holes in the papers and put them in a binder.)

Afterward, write down your general thoughts and feelings. And specifically, think about how you felt while choosing the images. Ask yourself “Which sensory images did I favor over others? Why?” Continue adding to your book whenever you like.

More Self-Exploration

To dig even deeper with these activities, Malchiodi suggests asking yourself questions about your work and art.

Do art activities help you express yourself and process your emotions? If you’re an art therapist, what are your favorite activities or ones that you’d like to recommend?

Last medically reviewed on August 6, 2011

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15 Art Therapy Activities & Ideas for Kids (Incl. PDF)

Maybe it’s been a while, but what about the last time you doodled on your notebook during a meeting?

For many of us, when we think of art, we tend to think it’s not for us. Perhaps you think you aren’t very creative, but there’s more to it than merely being ‘good at drawing.’

Allowing our brains the freedom for free expression, even by doodling, can have a wonderful impact on how we process, retain, and share information.

It’s no surprise that the therapy community has taken note of this, and in more recent years, there’s been a rise in the number of practitioners offering a very distinct form of therapy: art therapy.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is art therapy, what art therapy is not, a brief history of art therapy, 5 fun art therapy ideas and activities for children and teens (+pdfs), 5 art therapy exercises and techniques for adults, 5 helpful art therapy activities for anxiety, 5 art therapy books to read, how to become an art therapist, how to find an art therapist near you, a take-home message.

Art therapy is a blended field of therapeutic practice that combines art and psychology, utilizing the creative process, artistic techniques, and external artwork to support individuals to develop self-awareness, explore emotions, and address unresolved conflict or trauma.

Art therapy has also been used to help individuals, particularly young children, develop social skills and raise self-confidence. It’s a fantastic addition to positive psychology, as at its core, it seeks to help individuals overcome emotional or psychological challenges to achieve a greater sense of personal wellbeing.

A broader definition of art therapy has been established by the American Art Therapy Association (2013):

Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Most recently, there has been a rise in what is often referred to as mindfulness coloring . Some people see this as a part of art therapy, but it is very distinct from accredited art therapy practice.

There are many do-it-yourself coloring apps and coloring books for adults and children that promote coloring as a form of self-care or mindfulness. While these activities can certainly be helpful for many, unless a licensed art therapist has designed them, they cannot be considered art therapy.

As far back as there have been humans, there has been art. Just think of the original cave drawings.

Art as a therapy practice was only accepted more recently. The term ‘Art Therapy’ was coined in 1942 by Adrian Hill, a British artist, who attributed painting and drawing to his recovery from tuberculosis. However, the benefits of the practice of art for emotional health go back further than this.

In 1915, Margaret Naumburg, often referred to as the Mother of Art Therapy, established the Walden School in New York. Naumburg believed that children should be allowed creative freedom and that allowing them to pursue subjects that interested them would enable healthy development.

Naumburg wrote several influential books on the topic of art therapy, believing that when creative pursuits are seen as another form of expression, they can be used in conjunction with traditional communication to unearth repressed and unconscious memories and emotions.

Her work led others to begin exploring the field, building its reputation within the psychological community, including:

Young children often rely on their limited language skills to express complex thoughts and emotions. That barrier can be breached with methods of expression they understand a little better, like drawing and coloring.

Teens can also benefit from a pressure-free, consequence-free medium for their thoughts and feelings.

Below are five possible art therapy activities and exercises for children of all ages.

1. Art therapy postcard activity

Most people would probably agree that it’s easier to express or recognize hurts and regrets when there’s the distance between yourself and the problem. This is why the postcard activity can be a good self-discovery exercise that helps answer the question, “ What would I say to someone if I didn’t have to do it face-to-face? ”

This activity can be used in one-to-one or group therapy sessions. Here’s how to conduct the activity:

2. Words to live by collage

They may suppress their real character to avoid censure from their peers; this is why it’s essential for teens to identify their core values and identify who they think they are.

It’s crucial when working with teens to create coping strategies that they can come back over to time and let them know that their ideas, feelings, and values will change with experience.

The Words to Live By activity helps teens to visualize their core values through creative collage. Here’s how to teach this activity:

You will need:

3. Softness project

Humans are all tactile creatures, but children especially are touchers, explorers, and curious feelers. Utilizing touch is a way for them to learn about the world and to find comfort.

The activity below is a form of art therapy that focuses on using comforting textures and allowing for a manageable exploration of uncomfortable emotions. It is a particularly useful activity with younger children.

This activity can be carried out with a group or one-to-one.

Here’s how to conduct the activity:

With this project, participants are softened by the act of collage, rendering painful things into pleasant things.

In a group with young children, we recommend using materials like glue sticks and having pre-cut pieces of material ready.

4. Build a safe place

This is an activity that’s adaptable for all age groups, but may be a sensitive project for kids and young adults who often have little control of their environments and struggle to ever feel safe.

This project may help a child or teen reflect on ways to find a safe space or may simply help them feel like they have some control over their environment. It can be conducted one-to-one or in small groups.

Here’s how to carry out the activity.

Safe building materials such as cardboard boxes of different shapes and sizes, popsicle sticks, colored cardboard, pipe-cleaners, markers or colored pencils, glitter, and sequins

You can tailor the materials you use depending on the age group you are working with. The idea is to provide them with as much as possible so they can get creative.

5. Color your feelings

This set of three worksheets includes exercises for children to express their emotions or define the things they care about. It’s a very quick and easy exercise that can help participants create helpful visual representations of the things they value.

The worksheets include an empty outline of a heart.

Here’s how to use it.

Often, in dealing with adult problems, it’s even harder to articulate what hurts and why.

Distress from pent-up emotions and complex experiences that need articulation is an especially common experience for people in caring professions.

Art therapy is a promising therapy for end-of-life caretakers, helping them feel competent, develop emotionally focused coping skills, and increase emotional awareness – an essential skill to prevent burnout (Potash, Chan, Ho, Wang, & Cheng, 2015).

Caring professionals especially need the defense against burnout that art therapy can provide, but any adult is susceptible to burnout and could use the coping skills taught through art therapy.

Below are five activities for adults that can provide an opportunity to help them better understand themselves. Some of them are for use with clients addressing a specific area, and others are more generally therapeutic.

While these exercises might not be facilitated by a professional art therapist, many of them were developed and used by art therapists and can still make a difference for the individual seeking release.

1. Unmasked – Expressive Art Therapy Directive

This activity was created for people who struggle with eating disorders or have body image problems. People with these conditions often create masks to hide behind that can operate as distractions from other issues, keep others from seeing their suffering, or keep them from seeing their own dysfunction.

This expressive arts therapy activity involves creating masks that help explore the participants’ symbolic masks. Creating masks can be done individually or in a group setting.

The activity can help participants discover suppressed parts of themselves, uncover new coping strategies that aren’t food or body related, and confront a fear of what would happen if the body- and food-focused mask was removed (Schwartz, 2017).

Depending on your resources, you could help participants to make plaster masks from scratch or purchase some pre-made blank masks.

If making plaster masks from scratch, keep in mind that there is a drying time between layers of plaster, so this activity would need to be carried out throughout several sessions. If you are seeking to deliver a one-off workshop activity, the pre-made masks might work best. Other materials to use could include:

2. The lighthouse

For those who feel lost, overwhelmed, or isolated, expressing those feelings and visualizing hope can be a therapeutic and beautiful way to identify needs, feel hope for the future, and realize where they are on a specific journey.

The activity involves imagining being lost at sea and visualizing the ideal lighthouse that would provide the right kind of guidance. This is a great activity for both children and adults, but an older group or individual might better appreciate the depth and symbolism of the project.

Here are the instructions.

3. The self-care box

Affirmation and inspiration are the keys to the self-care box . It can be comforting to have something small, tangible, and beautiful in times of trouble. This is a simple activity that can have impactful results in times of need.

The box can be used as a resource, and its ongoing creation can be therapeutic for the participant.

Here’s how to make a self-care box.

You can ask participants to make their own box out of cardboard, or you can find small, plain, and inexpensive wooden boxes from many arts and crafts stores. Whichever you choose, you will also need:

You can share these quotes with them for inspiration:

4. The poem collage

Self-criticism can make the act of creation challenging, and finding the words to express your feelings can often be difficult because you’re self-conscious of how inadequate the expressions can feel.

By creating a poem from a pool of words collected from sources like magazines, newspapers, and old books, you can create an un-self-conscious poem that molds pre-existing words to your feelings.

Here’s how to make a poem collage . This activity can be carried out with a group or one-to-one

5. The family sculpture

The family sculpture exercise is a popular art therapy activity that exists in many other therapy types, such as family therapy , though in a modified form. It is enlightening for clients to mold their family in a way that represents the members and the dynamics, and it helps them identify problems in relationships that otherwise might be ignored.

It is a great activity to use with adults, where family dynamics and relationships are more ingrained, to bring awareness to how these things impact our thought processes.

Anxiety is experienced differently by different people and can range from low to severe. The range of symptoms experienced is also extensive, which means for many people, it often goes undiagnosed. Developing positive coping strategies and understanding how anxiety shows up in your life and what triggers an anxious response are crucial for managing anxiety.

One of the most enlightening parts of art therapy is the process of creation, which can be just as revealing as the final product. However, for people with anxiety, there may be an intense need to finish the creative process and create a universally appealing final product.

For people with anxiety, self-discovery and healthy coping mechanisms are essential, and art therapy techniques are among the healthiest ways to deal with some of the symptoms and experiences of living with anxiety.

Below are five art therapy activities, specifically designed to support individuals with anxiety .

1. The panic book

People with an anxious panic disorder can spiral into a panic just thinking about the possibility of having a panic attack. Panic attacks can have many triggers, sometimes known, but often not.

The panic book activity encourages participants to create a book full of images that help them keep calm during stressful situations and help refocus their mind onto something more positive.

2. What anxiety looks like

Understanding and visualizing anxiety can be a pivotal first step in controlling and treating it.

Representing anxiety as an abstract concept, person, or even a monster can help participants develop strategies to recognize it when they feel it coming on and deal with it appropriately. This activity allows participants to do just that.

Here’s how to do the activity.

3. Visual starter

Art therapy for anxiety can be counterproductive in clients who are anxious about creating art.

The visual starter exercise is a way around this, helping individuals to get started without being self-conscious. The starters can be adapted to specific prompts or used solely for healthy stress-relieving creation.

Here’s how to use visual starters for art therapy.

4. Creating mindfulness beads

Here’s how to make and use mindfulness beads . There are a few ways to create mindfulness beads, depending on who you complete the workshop with and your skill level.

You will also need:

5. Zentangle drawing

Zentangle was created with the promise that anyone can do it, even if they don’t think they can draw well enough to create something beautiful. Drawing Zentangles creates a feeling of accomplishment and helps to pass the time in a thoughtful, healing way.

Here’s how to draw Zentangles.

Whether you’re looking for additional education on art therapy or exercises and activities for yourself or clients, there are plenty of resources out there.

Below I’ve picked five of my favorite books that are well worth looking into if you’re interested in art therapy.

1. Art Therapy Sourcebook – Cathy Malchiodi

She defines ways to perform art therapy yourself and how to interpret the results.

Malchiodi also has a growing legacy of art therapy publications that would benefit the casual learner and professional alike.

Available on Amazon .

2. Art as Therapy: Collected Papers – Edith Kramer

This collection of papers touches on many topics relating to therapy, art, society, and clinical practice.

As it is slightly more academic focused, with an overview of previous and current research, it is an excellent resource for those considering entering the field of art therapy as a profession.

3. Art Therapy Techniques and Applications – Susan Buchalter

The book contains exercises that combine many different art mediums with mindfulness exercises and counseling applications.

4. The Book of Zentangle – Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas

It’s a foundational educational source on the development of the Zentangle and includes completed Zentangles for inspiration.

The authors describe it as a left brain/right brain resource for conjoining pictures and words.

5. 100 Magnificent Mandalas: Adult Coloring Book Vol. 1 – Jade Summer

Although not considered an authentic art therapy resource in research terms, a coloring book full of meditative mandala patterns could be a worthy investment for reducing anxiety and practicing art therapy as part of a self-care regime.

You can also find a list of the 16 best therapy books here.

It is still gaining traction, but positive psychology research has shown that when combined with other therapies, art therapy has great success in treating disorders, garnering it a great deal of respect and making it an ever-growing field.

If you’re interested in becoming a licensed art therapist, do some research about what regions would recognize your license once it’s obtained.

Most importantly, research art therapy thoroughly and find out what art therapists from around the world love about the job as well as the challenges that come with it.

Art therapists tend to focus their work with either adults or children and can work in a range of settings, including hospitals, care facilities, and schools.

If you think art therapy is the right career choice for you, then here are some steps you can take toward becoming an art therapist:

The internet has opened up many useful avenues for finding professionals that specialize in specific therapy or counseling needs. Thankfully, there are many directories of art therapists that can be searched by postal code.

Some directories that can be searched by location and that include art therapists are:

If your region currently recognizes art therapy as a viable counseling option, then it likely has a local art therapy association with a directory of licensed professionals local to you.

Finally, it’s common to wonder whether your insurance will even cover treatment by an art therapist. Generally, the best way to find out is to call your insurance provider. It might be able to refer you to an art therapist in your area who’s covered by your insurance.

I hope after reading this article, you’ve found a deeper appreciation for art therapy as a practice and the range of resources available to you as an individual or practitioner that can be easily implemented with a variety of clients.

Working with young people, I know how important it is to encourage their creativity at any possible moment, and I regularly utilize collage as an expressive form to help my students tap into their ideas. These visual representations always instigate some fantastic group discussions and one-to-one dialogues that the students and I find valuable.

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this article, it’s that art therapy can be used by absolutely anyone. There is no prerequisite of artistic skill. The more you tap into your creative process, the more comfortable you’ll feel with how you choose to express yourself through artistic methods.

Have you used any art therapy activities in your practice, either personally or with clients? Which ones did you use and how did it go? I’d love to hear all about your experiences in the comments below.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

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Article feedback

What our readers think.

I didn’t care for medicine but I love Art still need irradiation of medicine and a much better support structure for Art practice. Been 37 years now 38 later on this year. Happy New Year everybody!!! -S.O.S.

The art therapy you mentioned is great. I have a blog where I upload mental health-related topics. Your readers can benefit from that blog. Here is the blog: yourmentalhealthpal.com

I am so happy that i came across this article. i am currently working on art therapy project, though i am not an art therapist by profession. but this is my area of interest and i enjoy it.

This article has provided answers to many questions, i had in my mind.

I am handling a research about an art therapy, and this is exactly I was trying to find

Thankyou so much :))

So happy to have found this. I referenced and cited this article in my college research paper on Art Therapy. I especially liked the history given here. Thanks for sharing!

Hello when was this article written

Hi Tiffany,

This article was first published Mar 25, 2020. 🙂

– Nicole | Community Manager

This article was amazing! I found the information to be very useful, the activities extremely easy to create, and I think I have found a new career! Thank you so much!

This is the suitable blog for anybody who desires to find out about this topic. You realize so much its virtually laborious to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Great stuff, simply great!

Hi Zora, Thank you for the lovely feedback and for being a reader. We’re very glad you enjoyed the post. – Nicole | Community Manager

Long time ago, My mom kept beating me up for doing expressive activities. She wanted me to go to my room and start hurting myself, because I was expressing myself. My mom is a child Abuser. but, thank goodness she passed away in 2016. so, I could do one of your expressive activities to help cope my pain between mom abusing me, and me not being able to do anything because of the Corona-virus, which started 3 months ago in China and which started to spread around The United Kingdom, AND the United States of America. also, you got to keep ur head up when it is a struggle.

Hi Beatrice, I’m so sorry to read about your experience with your mother. It’s terrible that you experienced punishment for what is supposed to be an expressive, healthy activity. I hope you succeed in rekindling your enjoyment of art — I’d hope that that joy is something no one can take away from you. – Nicole | Community Manager

Nice overview of the field. You provided everything I was wondering about as an initial re-entry into the practice of Art Therapy. It was introduced to me a few times during my training for a Master of Arts in Counseling, and now someone in my case load needs this type of therapy.

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Art Therapy Exercises: 5 Easy Methods to Try at Home

Art Therapy Exercises – Easy, Fun, and Relaxing

1. visual journaling, 2. create a visual music piece, 3. draw in the dark – free yourself from restrictions, 4. map your future – a vision board, 5. gift an expressions of gratitude, one step further in art therapy exercises.

Art therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes artistic expressions and exercise as a way to heal and relax. It is an exploration of creativity and self-expression . While most therapies rely on clear verbal communication, art therapy exercises can be rather abstract and indefinitive in comparison. Art has always been a powerful means of expression beyond words. So if you’re stuck with expressing your feelings verbally, this can be a helpful healing solution. You can also read our post, The Power of Self-Expression – An Intro to Art Therapy , or Dance to De-Stress: Does Dancing Release Serotonin? to get a better idea of some of the therapeutic benefits of artistic expression.

Person dipping a brush into various colored paint

The term ‘therapy’ makes it sound formal and complicated. However, in reality, you don’t need to be an artsy person or have any experience in art to try these art therapy exercises. In fact, the less knowledge you have in art, the easier it will be to let it all out . This is because we are often confined to the preconceived notions of how “art should look”. This article lists a few fun activities that you can easily try at home on your own.

If you would like to learn more about art therapy as a concept and its therapeutic benefits, check out the article below.

The Power of Self Expression – An Intro to Art Therapy

A visual journal with pictures, words and stickers

Visual or creative journaling is a form of journaling that extends beyond verbal writing. This art therapy exercise in creativity can be a combination with words, but usually, the main means of expression is focused on the visual language. You can draw, cut, paste, color, and scribble however you feel – explore your creativity! In fact, Carl Jung, known as the founder of analytical psychology, kept a visual journal. This was because he believed it connected with his inner feelings and subconscious thoughts. Studies show that keeping visual journals is especially helpful for trauma, loss, and stress . Moreover, some people choose to keep multiple visual journals with different themes and purposes. It’s a private safe space for you to explore your thoughts and share your feelings. A notebook won’t ever judge, so there’s nothing to hold you back from creating an open and honest dialogue in it!

Person drawing in a journal on top of a desk with many art supplies

Materials: A blank notebook for journaling, markers, pens, pencils, photos, cut-outs, glue, and anything else you’d like to include. There are no limits on what materials you can use. Start keeping a regular record of yourself in a visual format through this journal. If you are unsure of how to start, search keywords such as “ visual journal ideas ” or “ creative journal ideas “. This will give you plenty of options to play around with and explore your creativity.

Are you usually more of a sound/music person than a visual? Then this is an excellent way to deepen your relationship with music while increasing sensory awareness and encouraging emotional expressions. Lyric-free instrumental music is considered most effective in this exercise because lyrics can distract from the relaxation process. Materials: Blank paper, markers, pens, brushes, watercolor paint (A fluid coloring medium is highly recommended), and lyric-free instrumental music to listen to. First, relax and pay attention to the sounds of the music to get into it. Then, choose one or more of the art therapy exercises below to try and create your art piece.

Person listening to music on their phone and drawing in a notebook

Woman with a blindfold against a black backdrop

If you are feeling nervous or pressured about how the ‘looks’ of your artwork will turn out, then this is the perfect art therapy exercise for you! Try this activity in complete darkness , or with a blindfold if necessary. Taking away your visual sensory will silence the judgment of your inner critic, therefore allowing intuition and other sensories to take over the process. Materials: Blank paper, markers, pens, and crayons.

A vision board with varioius pictures, magazine cutouts, and inspirational quotes

Have you ever dreamt of what life could be like? In fact, a vision board serves as a perfect motivational reminder of your inspirations and aspirations. In positive psychology, visualization is known to assist problem-solving while improving mental and physical health . As a matter of fact, deliberately aiming your intentions towards your desired experience of the future creates better success rates. Professional athletes also commonly use visualization techniques as part of their mental training. Putting yourself in the headspace of an ideal future can also act as a “ mental vacation ” experience. If you feel a bit stuck and unmotivated at the moment, this could be a good activity to try to boost your sense of creativity and motivation.

Materials: Poster size paper board, markers, pens, scissors, glue, and a collection of words and images of your inspiration and dreams.

Here’s also an excellent video on how to create a vision board explained by a certified art therapist.

Research indicates that thank you letters have positive psychological effects on both the sender and receiver . Specifically, focusing on expressions of gratitude can combat depression, ease pain, improve heart health, reduce inflammation, and alleviate anxieties. Long-term habits of writing out gratitude also create powerful changes in our mental and physical health. A thoughtful handwritten letter maximizes the benefit because it requires time to consider your thoughts of gratitude deeply. If so, what better way than to combine your thank you’s with your personal touch of creativity ? This art therapy exercise can also help you nourish your relationship with the people you love.

Materials: Card stock paper, markers, pens, collage materials, glue, postage stamps, and envelopes.

If you seek further deep healing through art therapy exercises, I encourage you to participate in a group or individual session guided by a certified art therapist. I’m no art therapist, so I’ve compiled these art therapy exercises as a suggestion based on common practices among art therapy communities. Professional art therapists are capable to further assist you if you want to explore deeper. As an additional activity to all of these art therapy exercises, you can have a dialogue with yourself and the completed artwork. Try writing about your experience and results on a piece of paper. You may find words for what was hard to verbalize before. Perhaps you will also discover hidden emotions deep within that were hard to recognize. It’s okay if you still cannot find adequate words to verbalize everything. Focusing on the art will at least give you a new refreshing perspective and a pleasant outlet for self-expression and creativity.

Many paintbrushes in cans on top of an arts and crafts table

→ Looking to improve your mental health? Try the SELF MIND app FREE for 1 week! If you’re looking for more tips on how to care for your mental health, check out some of our past blog posts !

References: A Thanksgiving Art Therapy Exercise For Groups or Individuals: Thank You Cards. (2015, November 26). Retrieved June 29, 2020, from http://www.arttherapyblog.com/art-therapy-activities/art-exercise-groups-individuals-thank-you-cards/#.XvmBFJMzbzV Baumgartner, J. (2011, November 8). Visualize It. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-psychology-dress/201111/visualize-it Frank, P. (2016, September 26). 37 Art Therapy Techniques For De-Stressing This Season. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/art-therapy-techniques_n_56562017e4b072e9d1c19f9b Hagan, P. (2018, November 19). How saying thank you can help to ease depression. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6407319/How-saying-thank-help-ease-depression.html Harvard Health Publishing. (2018, December). Writing a thank-you note is more powerful than you think. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/writing-a-thank-you-note-is-more-powerful-than-you-think Malchiodi, C. (2013a, October 23). Visual Journaling, Self-Regulation and Stress Reduction. Retrieved June 30, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/201310/visual-journaling-self-regulation-and-stress-reduction-0 Malchiodi, C. (2013b, November 19). Top Ten Art Therapy Visual Journaling Prompts. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/201311/top-ten-art-therapy-visual-journaling-prompts Mehlomakulu, C. (2017, May 27). Music and Mindful Art. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://creativityintherapy.com/2017/05/music-mindful-art/ Shultis, J. (2018, January 3). 20 Art Therapy Activities You Can Try At Home To Destress. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/20-art-therapy-activities-you-can-try-home-destress.html Wong, Y. J., Owen, J., Gabana, N. T., Brown, J. W., McInnis, S., Toth, P., & Gilman, L. (2016). Does gratitude writing improve the mental health of psychotherapy clients? Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Psychotherapy Research, 28(2), 192–202. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2016.1169332 Youhjung. (2020, January 9). How to Make a Vision Board – An Art Therapy Activity. Retrieved June 29, 2020, from https://www.thirstyforart.com/blog/vision-board-art-therapy-activity

30+ Creative Art Therapy Exercises (with Pictures)

Check out our list of 30+ art therapy exercises for adults, teens and children. new ideas aren't easy to come by, so we've collected the best for you here..

Art Therapy Exercises for Adults

Art therapy is the practice of using creative expression to help create a sense of inner equanimity and peace. The practice can be used to soften trauma, to assuage anxiety, reduce depression, and boost self-esteem. The best part is: you don't have to be a trained artist to enjoy it. Art therapy is available to all, and helps foster a deeper connection to the self. The practice of art therapy has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, which makes sense in conjunction with depression rates rising.

But you don't have to be suffering to enjoy art therapy, it makes for wonderful outlet to reduce stress and find relief, no matter the circumstances. But where does one start with art therapy? We compiled an extensive list of excellent activities to introduce you into the world of art therapy. So grab your supplies, and dive into this expressive world of healing.

5 Art Therapy Group Ideas

1. blind contour drawing.

Supplies: Paper, pens, pencils, drawing boards or table.

Description: Split the group into pairs, inviting the coupled-off participants to sit across from one another. Ensure all participants have a pen and paper. Everyone in the group then draws their partner, but without looking down at the page. While drawing, you can keep your pen on the paper the entire time, or you can lift the marker, "blindly" estimating the gap between features. Even though it might be tempting to look down, practice resisting the urge, keeping your gaze on what's really in front of you.

Pro tip: It's more fun to instruct everyone to wait to look down until all members have finished their drawing to allow for a grand reveal.

Goals & discussion reflection: This exercise will not only likely get plenty of laughs, but also will challenge and improve participant's artistic ability to see. See if you can remain mindful throughout, noticing any discomfort that may arise, or any anxiety around wanting to make sure the picture looks good, and let it all go in the name of truly observing. We observe our partner, and we observe ourself. These works can oddly capture the essence of the subject, but give us a wonderful chance to truly see. When creating art based on a reference, we often get stuck looking at our page. If we can train our brains to spend more time looking at the subject, we will be able to uncover all of the details and translate that into our work. This exercise thus makes a great warm-up, and is a fun way to get into the creative flow.

2. The Five Senses

Supplies: Variety of objects for inspiration, and art supplies like crayons, markers, pastels, paper, etc.

Description: Find objects that encapsulate all of the senses. The classic example is a cracker or chip: it has a unique sound when biting into it, a flavor, you can feel the texture, looks distinct...you get the idea. Try to source objects that have vibrant expressions to the senses that include some contrast (maybe some are soft like a bag of flower, or somewhere in middle like cookie dough). Suggest group members select one of the objects an d spend a few minutes with it. Allow them to experience every sense as a focal point. Then, everyone draws their object using color and shape, keeping in mind the feeling the object invokes as they create.

Goals & reflection: There's more to this exercise than meets the eye...ear, nose, hands and mouth. Bad jokes aside, you're truly able to isolate the experience of a singular sense input. This usually inspires energy that translate to creative output, and instantly brings us into a space of mindfulness. In order to be present with our senses, we must be in the here and now. Ask people which sense they focused on most. And something else magical tends to happen with this exercise, when we focus on one thing, our mind softens and releases stress. It's a stark contrast to the everyday obsession of all the to-dos.

3. Bank of Affirmations

Supplies: One box or container per person. Square tissue boxes work perfectly, but you can use other wooden boxes, recycled containers, or even jars. Next, get all the decorating supplies you would enjoy using. This can be sequins, paint, scrapbook stickers, pencils, markers, sharpies, glitter, buttons, etc. You might type up the affirmations, you might write them on sticky notes, or perhaps on slips of paper you cut out with scissors.

Description: Ask everyone to write down a list of affirmations they want to embody or adopt as their own belief. Everyone can read their list out loud, and provide time for the group to add any new ones that may have come as inspiration from another person's list. Then, let everyone write their affirmation and decorate the cards to put in their decorated "bank". This exercise works well if everyone has 52, one for each week of the year to withdraw an affirmation.

Feeling stuck? We even have an extensive list of incredible affirmations, just email us to get a copy of it (masterpeacebox @ gmail.com)!

Goals & reflection: This exercise provides the opportunity to reflect on your intentions and what values you want to start focusing on. While it certainly can work as an exercise for individuals, we think it's more powerful done with others to foster that sense of accountability that a group creates. Invite everyone to reflect on the power of belief

4. Group Cake Decorating

Supplies: One plain sheet cake per group (group can be broken into teams, which requires multiple cakes), plastic spatula, icing, sprinkles or any other cake decorating materials (this could even include children's toys...get creative!).

Description: Wait..I didn't know art therapy could involve cake? Well, now I'm definitely on board! In this exercise, divide the group into teams (usually 3-5 people per cake is enough to get the benefits of teamwork while ensuring everyone gets to play a role). Encourage everyone to pick a theme to start. Probative questions include: is your theme literal or abstract? Are they planning to use symbols or words at all? Have teams collective create a game plan and then let everyone take turns contributing to the overall design.

Goals & reflection: This exercise is deliciously fun. Something about it always seems to create a positive atmosphere. Socialization, teamwork and cooperation come together with creativity in a beautiful way. Reflect on what themes were chosen and how people felt in the group (did they want to lead, or perhaps did they feel more comfortable letting others decorate).

a portrait of a person who listens to you is a great art therapy idea

5. Who Listens To You

Supplies: Paper and any drawing supplies (pens, pastels, crayons, markets, etc.)

Description: This exercise is pretty straightforward, but powerful nonetheless. Ask particpants to draw someone in their life who listens to them. Give them a moment to think about it, and remind them this is someone who makes you feel valued and supported.

Goals & reflection: As a group, reflect on the importance of communicating with others and having your voice heard. This also allows the group to share beautiful stories, and conjure images of their own support systems, which instantly uplifts the energy in the room. Remind people it doesn't matter much about their artistic ability, rather, it's the feeling and the ensuing meditation on the power of relationships.

5 Art Therapy Ideas For Adult Self-Esteem

Mirror drawing is a powerful practice for self therapy and self observation

1. Mirror Drawing

Supplies: We suggest at least an A3 size of paper, because it will provide you with enough space to keep the drawing of your face true to size. Gather any materials you'd like to create the self-portrait (which can be mix-media): colored pencils, oil pastels, charcoal, paint, etc.

Description: Your task is to draw yourself. Set up your mirror so you can see yourself clearly, making sure your mirror is large enough to allow for this. Make sure you are physically comfortable and strained to see your reflection. Begin by breathing. Let your eyes observe the light, shadow, form, texture and lines of your features, without judgement. Try to view yourself like this is the first time you are seeing the image. Then begin by drawing from the inside and working your way out (this will help you not mis-judge the size of features, resulting in a squished face). You can play with duration and time intervals, giving yourself two, five, ten or twenty minutes to complete the same exercise. Or, perhaps, make this a long-term project. We suggest at least starting out with a few quicker, short sketch warmups. This will help get the energy moving and keep you from obsessing over getting the details perfect.

Goals & reflection: As you work on your portrait, try to get absorbed in the moment of creating. Remind yourself of all of your unique qualities. Refrain from judging, perhaps noticing if those thoughts come up (we don't ignore the thoughts, but we also don't indulge them). Reflect on the miracle of being human, and wish yourself peace in the enjoyment of being human.

2. Visualize Release

Supplies: Soothing music, any drawing materials, paper

Description: Play relaxing background music and let yourself start to get visualize stress releasing. Start to slow down your breathing, and allow the breath to become the focal point of your awareness. Now start to imagine all that you are breathing out, perhaps exhaling fear, anger, stress, etc. Or, maybe you're letting out love and light. Whatever you are releasing in order to relax. Think about color, texture, size and shape. Now draw what you breathed out. You can use any type of form or design to depict the feelings and thoughts.

Goals & reflection: Reflect on the experience of relaxation. Notice what emotions seem to come alive in the artwork. With this practice, you'll start to become more in-tune with your inner state, being able to visualize stress and give it color and shape and a way to express itself. Through this, we can detach from the stress. Stress is just an experience passing through. It's not who you are deep down. Hopefully, you'll gain a better understanding of yourself and your feelings through this art therapy technique.

3. Self Esteem in Clay

Supplies: Any type of clay

Description: Work to create different representations of what self-esteem means to you in clay. Perhaps you create different versions of yourself across time, to show growth or what it means to step into a good space. Or, maybe you focus on creating a representation of yourself and other representations of the insecurities that block you from being your ideal self.

Goals & reflection : Notice how you see yourself in your mind. How do you portray yourself with the clay? What traits do you highlight? If you chose to work with representations of insecurities, is it helpful to see these as outside of you? How do they look?

drawing your armour to visualise your defences against the outside world

4. Draw your armor

Supplies: Crayons, markers, paper, pastels, pencils, etc.

Description: Think about what protects you. Reflect on what outside forces are interfering with you. What is your armor? How does it look? Create a piece based on your own armor. It can be literal or abstract.

Goals & reflection: Reflect on what your defenses are and what are the reasons you have them in place. Do you lash out? Distance yourself? Hide? Yell? Explore your visual representation of armor: is it large or small? Bright or dark? The goal is to start to break down one's defenses and start to gain a deeper sense of self in the awareness of your own defense mechanisms.

5. Smile Collage

Supplies: Glue-sticks, magazines, photographs, newspaper, scissors, mixed-media

Description: Make a collage of all the things that make you smile, or perhaps of smiles themselves. Think of a variety of sources to gather your images. Bring to mind your own joy throughout this entire process. Does it feel contagious to spend hours looking at smiles? Do you feel elevated looking at things that make you smile?

Goals & reflection: Reflect on what truly makes you happy and brings you joy. Let this serve as a totem, a reminder, and something to spark joy when you need it most. The goal here is to reconnect with your own deepest desires, the things that are inherent and part of what makes you you.

5 art therapy ideas for adult depression

self drawing before and after a body scan

1. Body Scan

Supplies: Any drawing materials and paper

Description: Complete a mindful full-body scan. Close your eyes, and start to visualize relaxation melting all the way down your body, from the scalp to the eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, jaw, neck, shoulders, etc. Scan all through every part of the body, mentally seeing these parts starting to release and relax. Feel free to play calming music during this exercise. Take either two sheets of paper or one sheet folded in half and draw yourself before and after the body scan.

Goals & reflection: See how your piece may represent the process of relaxation. It may also be a nice reminder of the fact that we can in fact regulate our mood. This exercise will highlight the importance of learning how to self-soothe.

2. Papier Mache Masks

Supplies: Papier mache paste (3 or more cups of flower, 1 cup water, 1/3 cup salt, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, with the option to add food coloring). We suggest newspaper or a drop cloth to mitigate mess on your workspace surface. For constructing, you'll need the finished paste, balloon and strips of newspaper. For decorating, consider fabric, feathers, collage materials, etc.

Description: Blow up the balloon and cut out strips of newspaper. Dip the strips into the paste and place them to cover the space needed to make a mask (roughly 3/4th the way around). Let it dry for about 24 hours (more if still not hardened). Then, pop the balloon and cut out eye and mouth holes to make the hardened papier mache resemble a mask. If you'd like, you can start decorating as is, or you can create nose, lip and eyebrows (elevated features) by soaking paper towels in the mache paste and molding the features like clay. After this is dry, you can decorate any way you see fit.

Goals & reflection: Explore the idea of self-image. What masks you might put on in your daily life? Need inspiration? Watch the Ted Talk above to see how these masks can really work to bring you healing. Reflect on your feelings as you create and decorate you mask. See how you feel at the end.

THERE'S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK - By Portia Nelson "Chapter 1 I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost… I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. Chapter 2 I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend that I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in this same place. But, it isn’t my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter 3 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in … it’s a habit … but, my eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter 4 I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter 5 I walk down another street."

3. Reflection of "The Hole"

Supplies: Paper, crayons, markers, pens, pastels, etc.

Description: Read the above poem entitled "The Hole, An Autobiography in Five Short Chapters" by Portia Nelson (1993). Rest in a moment of silence to let the poem sink in. Then try one of these artistic reflection exercises:

Goals & reflection: One of the goals of this exercise is problem solving. Think about how you process your depression. Do you repeatedly walk down paths you know you shouldn't? Are you self-sabotaging? Don't get judgmental, but stay inquisitive of what are your habits around your depression. This exercise also gives you a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how you are trying to overcome the problems, and remind yourself that you are in fact working toward happiness.

the act of drawing your depression can help you get the energy of the depression out of you

4. Draw Your Depression

Supplies: This exercise can really be performed with any artistic medium. Consider pens and pencils, markers, paint, canvas, paper, etc.

Description: We suggest starting with a brief meditation or mindful check-in . Then, when you are a bit more relaxed, reflect on the experience of your depression. Now, draw or paint a visual representation of that depression. You can be literal or abstract, just stay connected to capturing the feeling.

Goals & reflection: The goal is to get the energy of the depression out of you. It's helpful to see it visualized, further distinguishing it, separating the depression from who you truly are. We can start to see it as an experience and we can reflect on what we do in the moments when it arises, how we cope, and that there are moments when it isn't present. You'll gain some self-awareness and a sense of control when you see the image on the outside, subject to analysis.

5. The Worry Tree

Supplies: Drawing paper and materials (markers, pastels, crayons, pens, etc.)

Description: Draw an outline of a tree without leaves. You can also print out an outline of a tree if you prefer not to draw it. Then, use words, symbols, figures, shapes to capture the essence of your worries and concerns and place them where the leaves would be.

Goals & reflection: This exercise is helpful in expressing problems. It helps us get that energy out of the body. Notice the personality of this tree. What is the width, height, liveliness, and any other qualities of the tree. Is it crooked? Is it ominous? Is there a root system? Can you reflect and trace back to the roots, thinking about the causes of the worries that are in bloom?

5 Expressive Art Therapy Ideas

1. Mindful Mandala

Supplies: Drawing paper, colored pencils work really nicely, or any other drawing supplies.

Description: A mandala is a concentric geometric pattern. It is often used to represent the metaphysical or cosmological landscapes. Luckily, there are a million mandala coloring books to choose from these days. You can also create your own, starting from the center and making your way out, adding symmetric designs. Or, you can grab a paper plate and draw the outside of a circle and work your way toward the middle. Try to let the drawing reveal itself as you enter a flow state, not needing to plan too much ahead.

Goals & reflection: This is a wonderfully expressive exercise and opportunity to hone in a state a focus. Notice how you feel before and after, and let yourself create anything you desire. You'll likely enter a soothing space of enjoying the moment.

2. Meditation Painting

Supplies: Canvas, paint, paintbrush, cup of water, paper towels, protective cloth or newspaper.

Description: Perhaps start with a light breathwork exercise to start to transition out of your busy day into a state of mindfulness. Then, similar to the mandala exercise, allow the painting to reveal itself. Don't force anything. See what emerges and move in whatever way feels good even if it doesn't feel like it looks good. Want a little guided meditation to play? We crated one a while back to guide you through a mindful painting process, check it out here.

Goals & reflection: Express yourself without falling into the criticism or praise of your work. Just be. You'll enter a soothing meditative space of flowing with the moment. And the process is a cathartic transfer of energy. Bringing the inner world out, and giving it form, without having to explain it in words or with logic. Trust the process, and mindfully check in at the end to see how you feel. Notice any shifts.

3. Paint Flicking

Supplies: Canvas or paper, acrylic or tempera paints, paintbrush (or can be done with old toothbrush), water, container or cardboard box. Plastic drop-cloths highly recommended.

Description: Set up a protected area with the plastic drop-cloths and container or cardboard box. If you are using a cardboard box, cut out the top and one side and place it on top of the drop-cloths. Now place paper or canvas on the bottom of the box. Flick paint onto the canvas in a controlled manner (you can strike the paintbrush against your other hand). Let loose and have fun!

Goals & reflection: How did this feel? Did you feel a sense of freedom? What emotions came up while creating the piece? Can you think of a title? This method is great for releasing anger, or energizing yourself out of a state of apathy. It's expressive, kinetic, and creates beautiful artwork.

experiment with tape art as a way being creative

4. Designs with Tape

Supplies: Canvas or thin cardboard, masking tape, markers, crayons, pastels, paints, magazine photos, glue, scissors, etc.

Description: Use the masking tape to create different sizes and shapes across the cardboard or canvas. This is going to create negative space on your piece. So, you'll then want to draw or paint on the canvas. Then, remove the tape and see what designs emerge. You can now go back and fill in the empty space with new designs if you so choose.

Goals & reflection: This activity pushes you to experiment. Reflect on if you felt the urge to fill the entire space of the canvas, or if you were comfortable with the negative space. Overall, the main objective here is to express yourself. So let go of any judgements, and get creative.

playing with clay is therapeutic try it and create something expressive and unique

5. Clay Time

Supplies: Any type of artistic clay.

Description: Start by kneading the clay, visualizing it as a stress-ball of sorts, melting away any tension. Bring mindful awareness to the sensations of the clay, noticing the texture and temperature. Create amorphous shapes with the clay. This is abstract, and there are no right or wrong approaches.

Goals & reflection: Were you tempted to create something representational? How did it feel to mindfully work with the clay? Do you feel more relaxed? Goals include trusting the intuition and boosting creative confidence through experimentation.

5 Art Therapy Ideas for Children

1. Draw a Pet

Supplies: Any drawing materials and paper.

Description: Your child may already do this by nature, but invite your kid to draw a pet, real or imaginary, current or of the past. Introduce probing questions to help the child bring the pet to life: ask what the pet liked to do, any toys it had, how it would move, etc.

Goals & reflection: Ask the child to think about what that pet means to him or her. This is a great way to facilitate a moment around positivity and love, and proves a great chance to reflect on relationships.

2. Color Mood Pyramid

Supplies: Paints and a canvas or paper.

Description: Ask the kids to draw a large pyramid or triangle. Then, have the participants fill in the triangle with colors that represent their different moods. Have them start with colors that represent negative moods and gradually fade into a representation of positive feelings. The top can hold the brightest most positive color and mood.

Goals & reflection: Take note of if anyone asks why is the sad mood at the bottom. Let them know they can recreate again if they feel it is more suitable to have the happy emotions at the base. The goal of the exercise is to give kids a chance to see how their moods change, and reflect on what behaviors happen in those moods.

a famous kids therapy approach is to have them draw themselves as a superhero

3. Draw Yourself As a Superhero

Supplies: Paper and any drawing materials.

Description: Chat with the children about superheroes. Now, ask the kids to reflect on the strengths of those heros, and then ask them about their own unique strengths. Then, invite the kids to draw themselves as a superhero.

Goals & reflection: This is a great chance for the child to build self-awareness, reflecting on their own abilities. Think about how the hero helps others. What ways do we give back? This helps the child see that there is an intrinsic element of service in the hero, not necessarily just individual strength.

4. Finger Puppets

Supplies: Glue gun is helpful, gloves, and decorative craft materials, wiggly eyes, (pipe-cleaners, foam, yarn, buttons, feathers, felt, ribbons, etc.)

Description: If you use a pair of old gloves, you can cut off the fingers and tape or sew the base of the fingers to prevent it from falling apart. Add features and decorations to the puppets. You can dress them with fabric and give them wiggly eyes to come to life.

Goals & reflection: After the puppets are made, let the kids play with them. Give them a chance to talk about themselves through the puppet, asking what the child's name thinks about certain things. This gives the child the opportunity to express themselves without worry.

a kids collage encourages creativity and problem solving

5. Create A Collage

Supplies: Scissors, glue sticks, yarn, magazines, coloring books, stickers, paint, pencils, etc.

Description: This one is beautifully simple: ask the kids to make a collage of things that make them happy. They will have plenty of ideas!

Goals & reflection: This is a great exercise to hold the child's attention, improving their focus, and encouraging them to finish whatever they start. They are also working on self-reflection to think about what brings them joy. A good amount of problem solving goes into the act of puzzling their composition together. This is highly expressive and good for experimentation too.

5 Art Therapy Ideas for Teens

a zentangle creates calm from the chaos you put on a page. Its lures you into a state of flow and creativity.

1. "Zentangle"

Supplies: Black pens, Microns work well. Colored pencils if desired.

Description: Create a messy line doodle, allowing the lines to overlap in certain areas. Then, fill in certain chunks of your design with a unique pattern. Each section gets a new pattern. You can also use a circularly object, or any other object, and trace it on your page in different overlapping positions. Fill the segments with patterns. If you'd like, you can add color.

Goals & reflection: This activity will entrance adults, children and teens alike. The goal is to achieve a state of focus and flow. Experiment with patterns, and express yourself freely. Get lost in the act.

2. Words and pictures

Supplies: Sheets of drawing paper, drawing utensils, and index cards with various nouns (nouns work best, as they are concrete: dog, cat, flower, etc.)

Description: Let everyone in the group write a few nouns onto the index cards. Then, place the index cards face down onto a table. Pass out the drawing paper. One player then picks up an index card and has to draw whatever is written on the card in one minute. You can use your phone to set a timer for one minute, and after the time is up, other members guess what the drawing is. If someone gets it right, the artist and the person who guessed properly get a point. If no one is correct, the artist can either take no points, or get an additional 30 seconds to draw. But, if no one guesses correctly after the additional 30 seconds, the artist subtracts one point from his or her score.

Goals & reflection: This is a good exercise for group bonding, cooperation, and entertainment.

mimic a famous artist and see what you can create

3. Mimic Famous Artist

Supplies: A reference book or smart phone to pull up images, and any art supplies you have available to recreate pieces inspired by your chosen reference.

Description: Review the works of a famous artist. Discuss the work of that artist, and get inspired. Using your own style, create a piece inspired by one of their works. For example, if Picasso is the inspiration, perhaps the teen creates surreal portraits.

Goals & reflection: Notice how everyone has their own unique visual language. Even if they try to recreate or pull inspiration from a renowned artist, their own style always seems to peek through. This is also a great way to educate teens about certain artists in an engaging, interactive setting.

4. Value beads

Supplies: String, claps, pliers, beads and any other available jewelry making supplies.

Description: As the group to think about what values they care about. Write out the values and let let a certain type of bead (color, size or shape) represent each value. Make a piece of jewelry inspired by the selection.

Goals & reflection: This exercise helps facilitate a reflection of what is important to the teen. They can grow a sense of self-awareness and acceptance that their values don't have to be the next person. We can all have our own set of values, and this opens the discussion to show how our values can guide our decisions.

5. Macramé Play

‍ Supplies: Yarn / rope.

Description: We suggest using resources like YouTube or Udemy to sharpen your skills with macramé, learning the methods and then creating something fun: a friendship bracelet, earrings, coasters, a plant holder, wall hanging art, etc. The material is forgiving, low mess, and will hold teen's attention for hours. We have our own lesson you can check out too!

Goals & reflection: This activity is great to challenge critical thinking, problem solving, spatial awareness, dexterity, and focus. You really will be surprised how the kids will lose track of time and get into a mindful state of being with the artistic medium.

Phew! There you have it... A very long list sure to keep you engaged in creativity for days on end!

100 Art Therapy Exercises

Art therapy can be a great way to relax. Consider these exercises if you're looking to feel a little more laid back.

Art can not only help you deal with the bad stuff, but also help you appreciate and focus on the good. Check out these activities all about reflecting on your personal happiness.

Often, a great way to get to know yourself and your relationships with others is through portraits.

Paintbrushes - 100 art therapy exercises

These activities will ask you to face some unpleasant aspects of life, but with the goal of overcoming them.

If you prefer to cut and paste rather than draw or paint, these projects are for you.

Examine aspects if who you are and how you see the world through these art projects.

Here you'll find a collection of projects that will help you be happy about what you have and express your gratitude for it.

Inside the Mind

Take a look inside your mind to see what's going on with these projects.

If you're still looking for something to empower, help or soothe you, these projects may fit the bill.

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Art Therapy Activities That Kids And Parents Can Do At Home

Art therapy is an approach to mental and behavioral health therapy that uses art-making as a vehicle for expression and tool to improve physical, cognitive and sensory-motor functions. Art therapy is facilitated by masters-level clinicians – professional art therapists – who follow a scope of practice and adhere to defined ethical standards.

What are the benefits of art therapy?

Art therapy is an effective therapeutic intervention to target underlying mental and behavioral health issues. For individuals experiencing disorders like depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment and autism, studies show that art therapy can release stress and alleviate suffering from symptoms by lowering anxiety, regulating behaviors, and building social skills.

Art therapy has also proven highly effective at helping patients foster self-awareness and self-esteem. Through art-making, participants are more likely to open up and share feelings, views and experiences – which helps improve self image, relieve stress, promote emotional resilience, and resolve conflicts.

Why is art important for kids?

Art encourages children to use their imagination in new ways, helping them improve their creative problem-solving abilities. Making art and exploring their creative process is especially beneficial for children who have difficulty communicating their feelings verbally. Art allows children the freedom to explore ideas and express emotions. Art can also help children learn coping skills , develop fine motor skills, improve hand-eye coordination, and boost self-esteem.

For parents, art-making is also a great way to give your child space to share and communicate.

Art Therapy Activities at Home

Whether you’re using art therapy for anxiety, to build self-esteem or just as an artistic tool to foster better communication between you and your child, remember to keep it fun and to let your child take the lead.

Here are just a few fun ideas for at-home art therapy activities.

Art Therapy activities for elementary and preschoolers:

1. collect rocks outside. .

Put them in the toaster oven at 120℉ until they are warm to the touch. Break up crayons and melt the pieces on the rock. Between the multi-colored melting wax and the smell, you’re not just creating art, but giving them a full sensory experience.

2. Activate their senses with a tactile finger painting experience.

Take shaving cream and add food coloring. Let your child smear it onto heavy paper, then let it dry to create a unique marbled effect. Take uncooked rice and “shake in” rubbing alcohol and food coloring. Once it’s dry, dump it into a plastic bin and let your child dig in – it’s a great sensory bin.

Mix cornstarch and water together to create the ideal consistency for oobleck . Add jello powder (citrusy scents are good for activating the senses). Let your child manipulate the goop, see how it morphs from solid to liquid. Talk about how it feels, what they smell, etc. This is a great activity if your child is tactile defensive.

Art Therapy activities for any age:

1. get outside .

Encourage your child to look for a rock or other natural materials that speaks to them. Incorporate that object into a collage or have them sketch it – make it the foundation of any type of art experience.

2. Sit down with your child for a Round Robin art Therapy session.

Each of you starts a drawing, then after several minutes, swap artworks to let the other person take over and continue drawing, and continue exchanging pieces every few minutes. This is a great activity for non-verbal communication and expression, and it can lead to some fun little drawings!

“Remember that the art your child creates is a gift and don’t try to enhance it,” says Susanne Graf, ATR-BC and lead art therapist at HYM . “Round Robin art is a terrific exercise in developing a broader perspective. It teaches parent and child alike to take in and accept what another person is doing; it allows you to play off each other and more often than not, the interplay can become really fun and meaningful.”

Self-directed art therapy techniques for kids

Sometimes, your child or teen might benefit from quiet time making art alone . This exercise can help your child decompress, find calm and allow for confidence building. Many coloring books promote recreation and self-care but remember these are not replacements for actual art therapy.

Here are some ideas to help you support your child through beneficial self-directed art therapy techniques.

1. Coloring Books

Find a coloring book or print out some coloring pages from the internet. Another great art therapy idea is creating an illustrated dream journal. Make sure to have plenty of crayons, markers, colored pencils, and other art supplies on hand.

2. Drawing Prompts

If your child is feeling stuck, try giving them an art therapy prompt such as "Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do" or "What does happiness look like to you?"

3. Sculpting

Play-doh, clay, or even art materials like modeling balloons can be used to create small sculptures. This is a great activity for working on fine motor skills and using imagination.

4. Painting

Encourage your child to experiment with different colors and mediums such as watercolors, tempera paints, or even finger paints can promote relaxation. Art therapy doesn't require abstract painting, so encourage your child to try a self portrait, a still life, or just about anything.

Gather old magazines, newspapers, wrapping paper, or any other materials you have around the house to make a collage. This is a fun way to create art with recyclable materials.

6. Photography

Taking pictures with a Polaroid camera, cell phone or tablet can be a fun way to document the world around them. You can even turn this into a scavenger hunt by coming up with a list of things to take pictures of.

7. Zentangle Drawing

This is a type of drawing that uses repetitive patterns to create images. It can be very relaxing and is a great way to unwind.

8. Nature Art

Collect leaves, sticks, flowers, or any other items from nature to create a collage or sculpture. This is a great activity to do if you are feeling connected to the outdoors.

9. Mask Making

Making a mask is a fun way to explore different identities and positive and negative emotions. Many art therapists use this technique as it can be a very cathartic experience. You can use paper mache, or even recycled materials to make your mask.

What happens in the brain when you create art?

The practice of art-making is inherently calming and entertaining, but it’s also really good for everyone’s brain . Any way you express visual creativity – whether it’s drawing, sculpting, making a scrapbook or decorating a room – stretches your mind and gives you new ways to communicate.

Making art can activate the reward center of your brain, lower cortisol levels and, as a result, stress. You can use creative expression to explore an unfamiliar feeling, express anger or sadness, or just experience joy.

Art is a visual representation of your feelings and ideas

Creating art is a great way to help your child process their feelings. If your child is feeling overwhelmed, angry, or sad, get them an art journal and suggest creating drawings of what’s going on. Art can help them to externalize their feelings and start to make sense of them.

If your child is going through a major life change, such as a divorce or grieving the death of a loved one, art therapy exercises can also be a helpful tool. It can provide them with a way to express their grief and begin to work through their sadness. Creating a visual representation of their thoughts or feelings can help your child learn how to cope with difficult situations.

Art can also be used as a preventative measure to relieve emotional stress. If your child is feeling stressed or anxious, making art can help them visually express how they feel and overcome emotional stress before it becomes overwhelming.

Art Therapy Techniques Can Bring Family Members Closer

“When a parent and child make art together, it slows everything down. It creates an opportunity to share an activity that, by its very nature, is creative and fun, open and accepting. Most importantly, it creates space and quiet where your child can feel supported and heard.”

“We spend so much time as parents shepherding our kids through everyday activities – whether it’s driving them to school, eating dinner, homework or bedtime.”

It’s important to remember, however, that art making at home is very different from art therapy online with a credentialed professional art therapist.

Art therapy is a psychotherapeutic relationship that applies psychological theory to the creative process.

“If a child is struggling with a mental or behavioral health disorder, working with an art therapist can be an important part of the overall treatment plan,” adds Graf. “However, there are ways to use art at home to support therapeutic goals or give your child another tool or coping mechanism to help in times of distress or angst.”

“As adults, most of us are starved for visual expression,” comments Graf. “Too often, when a child engages in art, parents take over and limit their child from freely expressing their own voice and creativity. It’s important to sit back, let your child struggle with something. Even if their cut-out or drawing isn’t what you’d want from yourself, celebrate that. Give them the time and as much space as they need to build confidence and accept themselves. ”

The most important advice Graf offers parents when it comes to making art together with their child? “ Put your phone away and be 100% present. ”

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If you or someone you know are currently involved in a serious crisis, please call 911 to connect with local emergency services that can help to resolve the situation. For other situations refer to our Mental Health Crisis Resources .

12 Most Interactive Art Therapy Group Activities For Adults

Art therapy is “a distinct discipline that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media.” There are a few different forms of art therapy, but, overall, it works as a form of psychotherapy to encourage creative expression while promoting healing and wellbeing.

For many, creative therapies — which also include dance, music, or writing therapy — can help those suffering from mental health issues to express themselves without having to talk or use words. This covers a wide range of both mental and physical illnesses by helping to provide focus and even hope for the future.

The great thing about art therapy is that it can be facilitated in person, remotely, on a one-to-one basis, or in a group environment. This makes it flexible for those leading art workshops and easy for participants to access therapy.

With that in mind, let’s explore some art therapy group activities for adults.

What happens in art therapy?

The specifics of each session are shaped by the various activities for art therapy that can be used. Generally speaking, the aim of a session is to help participants explore their emotions by giving them an outlet for self-expression. This can boost self-esteem and positivity, which can help to heal.

Art therapy doesn’t require any art skills or training for the participants. For those who run it, they generally need to have a master’s degree with 120 hours of supervised practice and 600 further hours of supervised art therapy internship.

The general structure of a one-to-one art therapy session includes:

Group sessions can be held less formally, with a group assessment to start with, and then art-making to follow. However, it’s important to take into account the needs of each individual . Instead of asking them all to draw something similar with one art medium, try coming up with a theme or prompt and giving them the freedom to choose which medium they’d like to use.

We hope the following 12 interactive art therapy group activities for adults will give you a source of inspiration…

Art therapy techniques and exercises for adults

If you’re ready to start facilitating group sessions as an art therapist, the following ideas should give you a good starting point. Remember that you don’t just have to use one — a range of techniques can complement each other.

Some of your clients may feel more comfortable building or creating using clay, yarn, or Lego. Others might prefer drawing using markers, an ink pen, crayons, or paints.

The ideas below are all fun, easy-to-do, and will also encourage conversations between the group.

Helpful art therapy activities for anxiety

While art therapy supports recovery from many forms of mental and physical illness, anxiety and depression are often the common denominators. Below are a few art therapy ideas for anxiety, backed by psychologists.

Build a safe space

Encouraging your participants to build their own safe space is an important and eye-opening art therapy exercise. First, ask them to visualize a safe space . This might be an imaginary place or a mixture of places and objects that have made them feel safe previously. This can be built with a few easy resources such as magazines, glue sticks, and scissors!

Create a collage of emotions

Draw in response to music

Music can often be very emotive. While music therapy is its own entity, music can be used in art therapy to bring emotions to the forefront. It can be employed as a vehicle of self-expression on its own or when drawing, painting, or creating as part of art therapy. Ask your participants to draw while the music is playing, or have them sit and listen to a piece and then create something to represent the emotions they felt.

Zentangle® drawing

While the term Zentagle® is trademarked, this method has been proven to reduce stress and promote relaxation by allowing lines and shapes to simply emerge. The official Zentangle® method follows the following eight-step process :

How to use essential oils alongside art therapy activities

Aromatherapy can create a calming atmosphere and promote relaxation. So, where appropriate, essential oils can be used to complement and enhance art therapy activities. Use a diffuser in the corner or the center of your space to diffuse and spread the scent throughout the room. Some essential oils are even thought to help reduce pain , promote mood and lessen anxiety.

The 9 Best Tactics For Promoting A Workshop Like A Pro

The five most common essential oils are:

Frankincense.

Below, we’ve put together some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about art therapy activities.

What can art therapy treat?

While it won’t necessarily treat or fix the root cause of the problem, art therapy can be used to help boost self-esteem, express emotions, and to help lessen the feelings of anxiety and depression.

Who can benefit from art therapy?

Art therapy is generally applicable to anyone who needs emotional support. It’s most commonly used for people who have:

How does art therapy help anxiety?

Art therapy can help anxiety by promoting calm and relaxation, giving an outlet for emotional expression, and helping to boost self-awareness and self-image. It works with other therapies such as CBT or medication to help soothe and lessen the symptoms experienced by those with anxiety – but is not a substitute for holistic treatment.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has given you some inspiration on art therapy group activities for adults. Many of these can be adapted for kids and teens, too.

Remember to take the needs of each individual into account, even during group art therapy activities. By providing various options for expression, the therapy can be made more individualistic and impactful — rather than if you encouraged everyone to simply paint using watercolors, for example. After the piece has been made, have a conversation about what the piece means, what’s reflected within it, and the author’s creative process. This can shed some light on their inner dialogue and point you to ways you can help them.

To give you the maximum amount of time to focus on the sessions and the needs of your patients and to promote your workshop , consider using a workshop booking software system . It will help you free up valuable time from managing clients, payments, and your calendar. With automated reminders, you will help your clients to remember their sessions to ensure they’re getting the maximum benefit from their therapy.

References and further reading

Cheat Sheet For Life

Life hacks for healthy, happy, successful life.

Art Therapy Activities To Develop Self-Awareness

Art therapy activities for self-awareness are the perfect choice for an at-home, self-directed therapy. You can make them a part of your self-care practice. These activities will raise your self-awareness and increase your mindfulness and well-being.

Having self-awareness means you know who you are and you can see yourself objectively without biases and faulty assumptions. That helps you be more confident, have stronger self-control, make better decisions, and develop better relationships.

Benefits of art therapy activities for self-awareness

Art therapy activities for self-awareness will inspire you to express your feelings, ideas, thoughts, and concerns in a creative way. They will challenge you to change your thinking patterns, observe life from another angle and think visually. You will experience a decrease in stress and an increase in self-awareness and self-esteem.

I suggest you write down your thoughts and answers to prompts. That way you will fully articulate your thoughts and not leave them unfinished, hanging in the air. Have a notebook or piece of paper. If it’s an activity that uses up only one side of the paper then use the other side to write so that you have it all in one place in case you’ll want to refer to it later on. If you are using a notebook for your art therapy activities then take one whole spread, one page for the creation and the other one for writing.

You can create something like an art journal. It’s a beautiful way of keeping a record of your life, thoughts, and feelings. I wrote an article about starting an art journal with lots of ideas and prompts that are suitable even for those who think they can’t make art.

Before you start!

Before you start with your chosen art therapy activity, do this little relaxation routine to get your creative juices flowing. Find some green plant, it can be your house plant, a tree outside of your window, or in case none of it is available find a picture, or better yet a video, of some green nature on the internet. Then look at the plant, breathe deeply and just observe the colors and shapes. Looking at elements from nature instantly relaxes the brain. A relaxed brain is more receptive and open to creativity. After a couple of deep breaths, you’re ready to start.

Art therapy activities for self-awareness

What feelings look like, you’ll need: .

Creative process:

On a paper write 10 to 30 different feelings (focus on the ones you feel most often). Space them out evenly so that you have enough space to draw a small picture above or under each feeling word. Using colored pencils draw how each feeling looks to you, it can be both abstract or realistic. You can use one or few colors for each feeling.

Benefits/Goals:

Look at the feelings from a different perspective. While trying to imagine your feelings having a shape and a color you’ll push yourself to look at them from different angles. We tend to avoid thinking about unpleasant feelings, but they are an essential part of our lives, just like the pleasant ones. Their purpose is to warn us, teach us, or direct our attention somewhere. Ignoring them will block the important message we need to receive. Use this activity to allow yourself to explore all your feelings.

Remote Island

Draw a small island surrounded by the sea and yourself on it. On the island draw plants, one animal, 3 things you have with yourself, and you can choose to draw one person (whomever you want, real or imaginary) to be with you or not.

There are two paths most commonly chosen to create a remote island. One is realistic with survival in mind, and the other is comical with entertainment in mind. These types of tasks are designed to make you think simplistically. Life is complex and sometimes stripping it to bare essentials helps you see what is of great importance in your life.

Perceptions Of Personality

On a piece of paper, with a marker draw 2 perpendicular lines to divide the paper into 4 rectangles. Inside the first rectangle draw yourself as you see yourself. Inside the second one draw yourself as you believe others see you. Then inside the third one draw yourself as you wished others would see you. Lastly, inside the fourth one draw your ideal self. The person you would be if you wouldn’t care what anyone thinks of you. Focus on the personality but also on the physical appearance.

How we see ourselves, how we believe others see us, how we wish others would see us, and how others actually see us are four different persons. Explore your perceptions of yourself to expand your awareness of yourself. Understanding that perception of a person is relative and ever-changing will help you not get pinned down by labels. You can always work on being more like the person you wish to be. Raising your awareness of how you are and who you wish you were will help you determine what changes you want to make.

Comfort Zone

Marker, colored pencils

On a piece of paper draw a circle with a marker. Inside the circle draw your comfort zone. Outside of the circle draw everything that is outside of your comfort zone that you want to do but don’t because of fear or discomfort.

Explore your comfort zone to better understand your motivations and mental obstacles. Question your limits and ability to stretch yourself a little bit further.

Fold the paper in thirds like a brochure. Create the brochure using words, abstract or realistic imagery. On the front cover of your brochure draw the representation of yourself. Inside of the brochure, on the first third draw your strengths, on the second third draw your shortcomings and weaknesses, and on the third third draw what makes you happy. You are left with 2 pages on the cover, fill one of those pages with your values, and the other one with your dreams, goals, and wishes.

Focusing on your strengths and values, but keeping in mind your weaknesses increases your self-awareness and self-acceptance. Lastly knowing what makes you happy, and what you want from life helps you stay optimistic and motivated.

Chapters Of Your Life

Colored pencils, markers, pastels

Look back on your life and divide it into separate chapters. Create a drawing for every chapter on one piece of paper (or page in a notebook). Think of your main focuses, goals, and worries at the time. Remember the people that were part of your life.

Your past created the person you are today. Taking time to reflect on the past and remember all the achievements and successes you made, but also all the mistakes you made and lessons you learned is one way of practicing self-awareness. Knowing how you get to the place where you are today allows you to see the big picture of your life.

Circle Of Control

On a piece of paper draw a circle with a marker. Inside a circle draw everything that is in your control, that you can directly change or influence. On the outside of the circle draw everything that is out of your control but you keep stressing and worrying about.

Understanding and accepting what you can and can’t control will greatly reduce your stress. Most of the time we are trying to control too much and that leads to stress, burnout, and feelings of failure and incompetence. Learn to shift your focus from worrying about all the possible outcomes to finding ways you can do everything that is in your power and then relax and let go.

Materials You’ll Need:

You can use any kind of materials you have or like, but these are the ones I like and use:

I really hope you’ll enjoy these art therapy activities for self-awareness if you decide to give them a try. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions please leave a comment and I’ll give my best to respond as soon as possible.

DISCOVER MORE ART THERAPY ACTIVITIES

Art Therapy Activities For Self-Discovery

Art Therapy Activities For Relaxation

DISCLAIMER: I am not a therapist. I am a person that is very interested in art, psychology, and working on myself, by myself. I read a lot, and explore and practice even more. All opinions shared here are formed through my exploration and personal experience and are for informational purposes only. Information shared here does not constitute professional advice. All actions you take on account of the information provided here are at your own responsibility. Every person should rely on their own good judgment, do their research, and make an informed decision.

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Art Therapy at Home

In these uncertain times, positive mental health and wellbeing is more important than ever - 83% of young people with mental health issues have said that the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health . T here are so many ways in which art can help alleviate stress and anxiety. We have utilised our expertise to develop therapeutic art resources and positive wellbeing tools that our service users and wider networks can use remotely. We are constantly adding new materials to help, so please keep an eye on this resource hub for new additions.

Art Therapist Videos

Follow along as our art therapists show different therapeutic art exercises to do at home Read more

Therapeutic Art Techniques

No matter the medium, these techniques can help promote positive wellbeing through art Read more

Relaxation Exercises

When feeling stressed, use some of these exercise to help ground you and relax your breathing Read more

Guidance for Parents

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Positive Wellbeing

Tips to promote children's positive mental wellbeing Read more

Downloadable Activities

View the different art activity worksheets you can use at home Read more

Journalling

Journalling has been proven to help with anxiety, depression, and stress Read more

Self Referrals

Is there a young person in your life living with a chronic condition that needs extra support? ⁠We are here to help. Read more

Digital Art

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Colouring Pages

Check out some of these stylish designs you can make your own at home Read more

Arts and Crafts Ideas

Here are some of our favourite arts and crafts projects that you can do at home Read more

Free Art Materials

We are providing free art materials so children that use our services can do art at home Read more

How You Can Help

Help us provide digital support to families in need Read more

Outside Resources

We compiled a list of helpful outside resources for you to explore Read more

GAIN Resources

Discover more about the art therapy journey by working your way through our GAIN Resources. Read more

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Why Art Therapy & Creating Stuff Reduces Stress

How Creating Art Can Help Reduce Stress

Mental health

Personality, organisational psychology, art therapy activities pdf (5), what is art therapy.

Art therapy is a combination of arts and psychotherapy .

Art Therapy Activities

Art therapy activities can be practice for increasing awareness about self, identifying emotions, enhancing problem-solving skills, and so forth.

1. Art Therapy Postcard Activity

Then the practitioners or the therapist will study the postcard, identify the conflicts being faced by the individual, and work with him on resolving these conflicts.

2. Unmasked – Expressive Art Therapy Directive

Other things you need for this activity include color pens, feathers, beads, or other decorative material, glitter and sequins, Glue, and Scissors.

3. Create a Family Sculpture

Create a family sculpture activity is a very interesting and engaging activity that helps individuals explore their emotions.

4. Color in a Design

5. collage your vision of a perfect day .

This activity is a very simple one.

6. Draw yourself as a Superhero

7. gratitude jar activity, 8. mask project for art therapy.

Use some old magazines for making a collage. Now what have to do in this activity is to reflect on the one side of the mask that you think other people think about you, and on the backside reflect yourself as you think you are.

9. Coat of Arms / Family Crest

10. picture frame art project, if(typeof ez_ad_units='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'optimistminds_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',663,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-optimistminds_com-medrectangle-3-0'); art therapy activities at home.

If emotions are getting the better of you can also Draw something huge, and then something very small and intricate, because this art therapy activity can be done at home and help you feel like you are getting your body involved and moving around can help release stress as you’re drawing.

Art Therapy Activities For Autism

Art therapy activities for adults.

A great type of art therapy activity for adults is the Lighthouse, which in some cases could be used for children as well but it may work best with people above a certain maturity level because it involves guided meditation as well.

The person is then provided with the materials mentioned before for the next part of this art therapy for adults, and they may then be instructed to draw, color, or paint a lighthouse as a source of guidance.

Art Therapy Activities for Kids

Once the therapist or the person leading this art therapy for kids has talked about these things, the kids may be provided with the worksheets and ask them to fill the heart with what we have just been thinking and talking about.

Art Therapy Activities for Anxiety

If someone has trouble understanding this art therapy activity for anxiety they may be asked to focus on the physical symptoms of anxiety and try to narrow down what they look like if the person really tried to imagine.

Art Therapy Activities for Teens

Art therapy activities for adhd.

A good example of an art therapy for ADHD is Ripped Paper Collage for which the materials needed are just some paper, pencils or pens and glue.

Art Therapy Activities for Addiction Recovery

These collages can also be made by cutting words out from old magazines, newspapers or picture books.

Art Therapy Activities for Grief and Loss

Art therapy activities for grief and loss can consist of things the person can do to keep the memory of the loved one alive, and to come to terms with the fact that they have gone, because very often when someone is dealing with the loss of a loved one they can suppress the memories and pain till the repressed things start causing problem.

Art Therapy Activities for Dementia

Art therapy activities for special needs, mindfulness art therapy activities.

A good mindfulness art therapy activity to do, given by CounselorKeri , is a hand drawing that engages many of the senses, and helps the person express their emotions, and the best part is that there is barely any structure to the activity.

Art Therapy Worksheets

Art therapy techniques and applications pdf.

Art therapy techniques and applications support the belief that all individuals have the capacity to express themselves creatively and that the product is less important than the therapeutic process involved.

Expressive Art Therapy Activities

While most people might know what some expressive art therapy activities are, the formal definition might not be as well-known, because while some characterize expressive arts therapy as the inclusion of any of the arts therapies; art, music, dance/movement, drama, and poetry/writing. Thus, using one or more of these therapies in work with individuals or groups is defined as expressive arts therapy.

Child Art Therapy Activities

Art therapy ideas for self-esteem, recommended books and amazon tools.

We hope you will benefit from this blog. If you have any queries or questions regarding this blog, let us know through your comments.

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Art therapy isn't just for kids: Here's how it can help you

Coloring and doodling can actually help you feel calmer.

Have you ever caught yourself doodling during a work meeting and realized it actually made you feel calmer? As it turns out, creativity actually has healing powers.

That’s why there’s a whole profession dedicated to using art to help with mental health . It’s called art therapy, and while it’s been around for a while, it’s been growing in popularity.

Art therapy isn't just for kids and you don't have to be "artistic" to try it.

Margaret Carlock-Russo, president of the American Art Therapy Association and associate professor and program coordinator, expressive arts therapy at Prescott College, told TMRW that, especially in stressful times, people naturally turn to art when they’re seeking relief.

For example, people have been creating murals and artwork for the protests surrounding racial justice . “That, to me, speaks to the deep human need to express ourselves,” Carlock-Russo said.

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What is art therapy.

Just as you might see a psychologist or traditional therapist, art therapy requires working with a licensed or registered professional with training. It pairs the creative process (drawing, collaging, etc.) with psychological theory and human experience to help individuals address concerns, emotions and different situations that might be concerning to them.

“Any time a person would think about going to see a counselor or therapist, they can also consider seeing an art therapist,” Carlock-Russo said. “One of the big misnomers is that because it has art in the title, a lot of people sometimes automatically think, ‘Oh, that’s for kids,’ but that’s not the case at all. It is for children, but it’s not only for children.”

What happens in art therapy?

Seeing an art therapist can help you understand the emotions and feelings you're experiencing.

You know how sometimes you have trouble putting how you’re feeling into words? That’s where the art comes in. It’s a way to express your emotions and feelings in a nonverbal way.

One thing art therapists want you to know is that you don’t have to be artistic to do this. “It’s not at all the same as when someone creates a fine art piece or wants to learn how to draw or paint,” she said. “This is about learning how to utilize media so that you can create lines, shapes, colors and symbols and reflect what you’re feeling inside, and that can come out spontaneously.”

For example, how are you engaging with the media? How are you creating lines and shapes? What colors are you choosing? “We don’t analyze (the client’s art) but we use that information to help them understand what they’re experiencing at the moment.”

How can I do art therapy activities at home?

If you’re feeling anxious or sad, there are some creative projects you can do at home to help give your mental health a boost and release some tension. Carlock-Russo offered some ideas that aren’t officially art therapy (since that requires working with a professional), but are great for self-help and wellness.

This doesn't take the place of seeing an actual art therapist if you think you need more help. “If a person is struggling with deeper emotions and things they can’t seem to grapple with or handle on their own, I absolutely advocate for them to seek help from a professional,” Carlock-Russo advised.

1. Create a collage

A collage can be made out of photos, images from magazines or even just construction paper.

Perhaps you’re familiar with collaging from your teenage years, where your bedroom walls and school notebooks were covered with pictures of you and your friends, concert tickets and anything else that had meaning to you. Well, it turns out collaging can also be good for your mental health.

Grab some old magazines and cut out some pictures from it, then glue them together on a piece of paper in a new way that expresses an idea inside of you or a feeling you want to relieve, Carlock-Russo suggested. “You can also do a collage with just colored paper and just make it about shapes and lines and colors and not images,” she said.

2. Draw a picture of your favorite place

You know how looking at pictures from a favorite vacation can make you feel happy? Well, going through the action of drawing a place that makes you feel comfortable, relaxed and calm can bring back all of those feelings again, plus it can help calm you in the moment, Carlock-Russo suggested.

3. Make affirmation cards

Elementary schoolers read inspiring quotes from Hoda's new book

Inspirational quotes can lift your mood ( Hoda Kotb knows all about that! ). Carlock-Russo suggests writing or printing out some of your favorites and gluing them on the numbered sides of a deck of playing cards. “It could be something even as simple as ‘Breathe’ or ‘Take a moment,'” she said. You can hang up a few around the house, pull a new one out every morning to focus on a positive thought or even keep one in your pocket during the day and look at it when you need a little moment of balance.

Doodling can distract you and help clear your head.

If you’re feeling stressed, doodling can actually help you relax by distracting you while keeping your attention centered. Carlock-Russo suggests pairing it with movement (like drawing on a big white board or chalkboard), which can also help you release some tension and energy.

“You don’t need to think about (the doodle) a lot,” she said, adding you should just relax your brain and let it go. “You’re releasing all of those thoughts that are nagging at you,” she said.

Julie Pennell is a regular contributor to TODAY.com and author of the novels “The Young Wives Club” and “Louisiana Lucky.” She currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two young sons. You can connect with her at juliepennell.com .

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100 Art Therapy Ideas and Prompts

Last Updated on January 27, 2022 by Carol Gillette

Art therapy is an experience-based approach used to face emotions, decrease anxiety, enhance social skills, build confidence, and encourage mindfulness. It can help enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities.

A professional art therapist uses art therapy activities to help treat personal and relational issues with individuals or a therapy group. He or she uses art projects to help improve a patient’s cognitive and sensorimotor functions.

Art therapy also fosters self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivates emotional resilience, promotes personal insight, aids in the reduction and resolution of conflicts, and advances change.

Art therapists use art and applied psychological theory and experience to make art therapy effective, as shown by this study from the American Art Therapy Association. The method engages mind, body, and spirit in a manner different from that of talk therapy. Expressive visual and symbolic communication allows people to express themselves when words don’t work.

Art therapy goes beyond simple arts and crafts and coloring books, and you don’t need to be good at art to take part in this mental health care method. Also, it’s not just for kids or the elderly. Everyone can benefit from art therapy when working with a professional art therapist.

Art Therapy Prompts

The following are art therapy ideas that use a person’s creative process, self-expression, and a lot of DIY, and which may have beneficial effects on the individual’s mental health.

1. Freedom looks like … Engage in visualization to create a piece of artwork that represents your idea of freedom and what it means to you.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to bring awareness to your vision of freedom.

2. Emotions wheel exercise. Think about your emotions and the colors that best represent those emotions. You can use the prompts to assign an emotion to each section of the wheel, and then designate a color and/or a picture you would like to draw that represents each emotion.

Goal: This exercise will help you view your emotions, such as anger and sadness, through a more objective lens.

3. Sculpt your emotions. Make a physical representation of the anger or sadness you feel or have in your life. You can create shapes, structures, and images that show your emotions.

Goal: Physically mashing and shaping sculpting materials will help you express and release some of your negative feelings.

4. Send artwork or a message away with a balloon. Use this exercise to get rid of negative feelings — such as writing down the word “angry” or a sentence about a negative situation in your life — or to send out positive feelings.

Goal: This exercise offers a physical representation of shedding negative emotions and/or spreading positivity to the world to enhance your well-being.

5. Document a happy experience you had. Using various art tools, document a happy experience you recently had. Create a visual representation of the event, the feelings, and the joy.

Goal: The exercise will help you express happiness and be a reminder of good times.

6. Heart exercise. Using an outline of a heart, draw the emotions, feelings, and experiences that live within your heart.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to track your view of your world and to identify feelings and healthy expressions of emotion.

7. How I feel today. Using the template above, choose colors, and/or emotions, to demonstrate where you feel certain emotions by coloring in the human outline.

Goal: This exercise will help you visually express how you are feeling.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help understand how you think about yourself.

9. Color with crayon. Crayon is an imperfect art tool. Use it to be at peace with imperfections by creating not-so-straight lines, uneven colors, and patchy shading.

Create With Your Eyes Closed

10. Draw freely. Feel free of your own judgment by drawing in the dark or with your eyes closed; draw shapes, patterns, or whatever feels right.

Goal: Through this exercise, you’ll be able to create and express yourself without judgment or self-criticism.

11. Draw how you feel. Close your eyes and listen to your breathing and your body. Using drawing tools, draw and color your physical sensations to create an emotional and physical self-portrait.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to provide you with an image of how you view your physical and emotional being.

12. Flower exercise. With your eyes closed, think of a flower you love or would like to see. Think about your flower in terms of sight, smell, and touch. Draw what you imagine.

Goal: This exercise will help you overcome stress while training your imagination.

13. Imaginary planet exercise. With your eyes closed, draw a planet that you imagine would be in space, including details of the surface you see in your mind.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help relieve stress while developing your imagination and fine motor skills.

Lines, Symbols, and Shapes

14. Draw a zentangle design. Zentangle is unplanned and abstract art that is created by various patterns and symbols, often made by drawing borders, connecting dots with lines, and shading open areas, usually done in black and white.

Goal: This exercise helps you let go and reduce stress.

15. Draw a mandala symbol. These geometric symbols, which can be drawn with traditional sand or with lines on paper from a center point, help aid in meditation.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you loosen up your mind and body and lessen fatigue.

16. Draw with symbols and shapes. Using lines, shapes, and colors, create images that express your feelings while thinking about why you used the lines, shapes, and colors you did.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you understand your feelings.

17. Create art using only lines. This simple art form can be used to express emotions you’re feeling.

Goal: This therapeutic activity will provide you with a visual representation of your feelings and emotional state.

Miscellaneous

18. Paint with your hands. Get your hands messy and have a good time with finger painting, spreading the paint, creating shapes and blobs and anything that comes to mind.

Goal: Allow yourself to have fun and be messy. Let your inhibitions go for a while.

19. Paint with just your body. Feel free and empowered by painting with your body as the paint tool. Use fingers, toes, hair, and other parts to create shapes and shades and apply color to a canvas.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you explore the possibilities and the beauty of your body.

20. Paint, scribble, or draw your stress out. Choose colors and other art tools that represent your stress and scribble and paint those stressors away through lines, colors, and your creativity.

Goal: This exercise helps relieve stress while allowing you to explore your creativity.

21. The unsent postcard. Express your feelings to someone that you might still be angry at by designing and writing a letter or postcard — that you don’t plan on sending — with words, images, and colors that express your feelings.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to provide an outlet for negative emotions you may be holding on to.

22. Create an invention. With your favorite art tools, design an invention that would make you happier. Don’t be constrained by reality. Create whatever would make you happy every time you use it.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you better create your own happiness and express your creativity.

23. Make short-lived art. Using sand, chalk, paper, or water, you can create a piece of art that can easily be destroyed after you’ve created it.

Goal: Letting go is not easy; this therapeutic activity will help you accept that some things are temporary and learn to release those things.

24. From illness to art. If you have a serious, potentially life-threatening illness, use your art skills to turn it into something beautiful by representing your emotions through shapes and colors; perhaps even imagine life without the illness.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to work through depression, anxiety, and other emotions related to having a serious medical issue.

25. Make art based on a quote or poem you like. Quotes and poems have the power to change our moods. Use words to create a visually inspiring piece of art, such as drawing the image the words evoke or sharing the colors you think of.

Goal: This exercise combines the meaning and beauty of the words with your art to create a visual reminder of the words’ effect on your life.

26. My life is like … Fill in the blank: “My life is like ____,” and draw a representation of your life today, such as a river, a mountain, a desert, etc.

Goal: Through this exercise, you’ll create a visual representation of your emotions — your view of your life — that you can compare to reality.

27. Use plaster to make a sculpture out of your hand. After it dries, you can write all of the good things your hand does for you directly onto the plaster.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to reflect on the things that make you happy and express gratitude for them.

28. Use a rock as your next canvas. You can use this exercise to paint the things that empower you or the struggles you want to overcome on a rock.

Goal: Rocks are solid and stable. This exercise is meant to offer you the strength to achieve and overcome challenges.

29. Write on leaves. Create a gratitude tree by writing what you’re grateful for on leaves you find. Then hang the leaves on branches or paste them to a banner.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to remind you of all the good things and people in your life for which you are grateful.

30. Just create. Let yourself be free and make the art how you want to make it without judging yourself. Draw, paint, sculpt — whatever you want, however you want — without concern for any “rules.”

Goal: By letting yourself be free to create, you’ll be more laid back and relaxed.

31. Create artwork using your nondominant hand. Give yourself grace and a chance to try something new and discover new ways to create.

Goal: This exercise will help you “unlearn” what you know about style, control, and discipline, and to recapture the freedom you felt as a child.

32. Mix colors. On a sheet of paper, draw several circles with a pen. Color in each circle with a different color. Once the colors have dried, apply different colors to each circle to see what the new color will look like.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to overcome emotional stress and develop the imagination.

33. Create your own permission slip. We all have personal traits, but sometimes we view those traits as faults. Create a physical permission slip to give to your future self so that instead of feeling defeated about a personality trait, you may give yourself permission to minimize the feeling of defeat.

Goal: Minimize feelings of defeat, or even self-hatred, with this exercise.

34. Draw something large. Move around and draw something very large. You can even go outside and use some chalk on the sidewalk to get your body moving.

Goal: The range of motion needed to create a large drawing can help release stress.

35. Scribble draw. You can turn a scribble into something beautiful with your creativity. Make lines, add color, and create a scribbled masterpiece.

Goal: This exercise helps you tap into your creativity and relax as you do so.

36. Color in a drawing. Use a coloring book, or create your own drawings and outlines to color.

Goal: The purpose of this simple exercise is to help relax your mind and body.

37. Draw in your favorite place. Traveling opens the mind to new ideas. Pick your favorite place to be in and go there to draw something you want to draw.

Goal: This exercise takes you out of your normal environment into a different, yet familiar, setting, unleashing creativity and promoting a positive mood.

38. Draw outside. Literally, take your art out-of-doors. Getting closer to nature can get your creativity flowing and relax you.

Goal: Being outside is fun and relaxing and promotes a connection with nature.

39. Draw your fears. Get closer to facing your fears by making what scares you more real, and relatable, through a drawing.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to bring your fears to light and work toward facing them.

40. Draw your favorite childhood memory. Take a few moments and think back to your childhood, recalling especially pleasant times. Using your favorite art supplies, draw a visual representation of your favorite childhood memory.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help relieve stress and fatigue.

41. Sketch a mountain and a valley. A mountain represents your happiest times, and a valley represents your saddest times. You can add specific events into the artwork.

Goal: This exercise will help you find balance in the good and bad times of life.

42. Create unique drawings for the people you love the most. Show your gratitude by creating something for a loved one.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to bring to light what is most important in your life — your loved ones — and express gratitude for them.

43. Sketch your body image. On a canvas or paper, draw how you see your body to help with body image issues.

Goal: This exercise can help you discover how your body perceptions compare to reality.

44. Draw your mirror reflection. What is reflected in the mirror when you look at it? Is something standing in the way of your reflection? Depict what might be standing between you and your reflection.

Goal: Discover how what you see in the mirror compares to the reality of who you are, and what needs to change to clear up the reflection.

45. Draw your name. On a large piece of paper, draw your name as large as you can to take up as much space as possible.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to explore your identity and promote self-acceptance.

46. Draw a portrait of a past and current self. Divide a piece of paper down the middle by drawing a line. Draw yourself as you’ve always seen yourself with the line dividing your face down the middle. Now, choose one side for your past self and one side for your current self to represent the change you’ve made from past to present.

Goal: This exercise helps illustrate how much the self can change over time.

47. Use objects that mean something to you as inspiration for a self-portrait. Instead of drawing yourself as you look, draw yourself by drawing various types of objects that mean something to you.

Goal: This exercise offers a chance to reflect on who you are and how you see yourself by examining why you chose the objects you did.

48. Create a portrait of your future self. Create a visual representation — a drawing or painting — of how you wish to see your future self.

Goal: Learn about yourself, your goals, and how you might become who you want to be in the future.

49. Create a visual of how you think others see you. Use this to compare to the self-portrait you made of how you see yourself.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to get to know yourself and examine your relationships with others.

50. Draw yourself as a strong warrior. What is a warrior to you? Pick up a pencil or paintbrush and create an image of yourself as that strong warrior.

Goal: This activity will help you begin to think of yourself as strong and capable.

51. Draw yourself as a superhero. Decide who you would be as a superhero and what your superpowers would be, and draw what that would look like.

Goal: This project will help you see yourself in a more powerful light.

52. Draw a picture of someone who changed your life for better or worse. Draw a person who has impacted your life in one way or another.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to acknowledge the people who have affected your life.

53. Create a portrait series of yourself over time. By drawing self-portraits of yourself over time, you create visual representations of how you’ve changed.

Goal: You’ll be able to see how you’ve grown and changed in your life with these drawings.

54. Draw yourself as your spirit animal or plant. Use your creativity to draw yourself if you could be an animal or plant.

Goal: This exercise will help you understand your self-identity.

55. Draw your favorite character traits. Celebrate yourself by drawing representations of all of your good character traits as you see them.

Goal: This exercise can help you relax and relieve stress and fatigue while creating a more positive self-image.

56. Draw all of the positive things in your life. Think of all of the things in your life that have helped you in one way or another and draw them.

Goal: Acknowledging positive life elements will evoke happiness while allowing an expression of gratitude.

57. Draw your inspirations. Draw the things and people that inspire you. Give them the colors and forms that represent the feelings you have about them.

Goal: The exercise will help you realize what you have and be happy.

58. Create a drawing of your dreams. Keep a dream journal and then use your descriptions to draw what you dream about.

Goal: You can learn about yourself from your dreams and tap into your inspiration.

59. Butterfly dream and nightmare exercise. Draw a silhouette of a butterfly. Fill it in with one wing depicting a dream and the other wing depicting a nightmare.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to study your fears and discover your inner resources.

60. Do one doodle a day. Doodle your emotions, how you feel, what you’re doing, or what you want to do.

Goal: This exercise offers you a chance to take a break from your hectic day to reflect and be creative.

61. Draw monsters in place of your real fears. Think about something that frightens you and use your tools to give it form, color, and shape.

Goal: Creating your own representation of a monster based on your fear will take some of its power away.

62. Spontaneous drawing. Draw an illustration of your idea of a fairy tale or an element from your favorite fairy tale.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to draw your attention to your real experiences.

63. Doodle without purpose. By yourself, or with a friend, draw random doodles and pass your pencil along to your friend.

Goal: This exercise helps you enter deeper into your world and reflect.

64. Connect your doodles. Start with one doodle and create other doodles from that one doodle.

Goal: Open your mind to possibilities and delight as one doodle grows into something magical from your efforts.

65. Use calming colors. Create artwork using colors that you find calming.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to calm both the mind and body and offer a feeling of wellness.

66. Paint to music. Music reveals and unleashes emotions. Play some music that resonates with you and express your feelings through a paintbrush.

Goal: Through art and music, you can begin to relieve emotional stress and also to relax.

67. Make a painting of a perfect day. Paint your ideal perfect day and see how much of it you can turn into reality today.

Goal: This exercise will help you think about possibilities and how you can make positive events happen in your life.

68. Paint a loss. Painting a loss, whether it be a lost loved one or a loss of another type, can help you remember and recover.

Goal: Remembrance and recovery go hand in hand. This activity will help you learn how to express grief and negative emotions.

69. Paint your safe place. Using art and your memory, create a place that makes you feel safe.

Goal: This exercise will help you find safety in a scary world.

70. Paint a spiritual experience you had. Draw or paint the emotions you felt when you had a spiritual experience.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to reflect and grow from your spiritual experience.

71. Happy moments. Paint positive memories or moments in an abstract art form.

Goal: This exercise will tap into your creativity while creating a positive life feeling.

72. Paint your feelings. Focus on your feelings and emotions and paint what and how you feel.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you identify and better understand your emotions.

73. Create a family tree painting. Think about those family members who have supported you and given you strength, and paint a representation of them.

Goal: Use this project to honor the people you are grateful for and who support you.

74. Use watercolors to express your bodily state. Decide how you feel on a given day or at a given moment. Draw an outline of your body on a canvas or piece of paper and use watercolors to demonstrate how you feel, physically and emotionally.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to analyze your physical and emotional feelings while entering a state of relaxation.

75. Wet paint exercise. Keep your thoughts and creativity flowing by painting on an already wet canvas.

Goal: This exercise will help you develop your imagination and ease emotional stress.

76. Paint blowing. After adding paint to paper with lots of water, use a thin tube to blow toward the painting to create various color spots and mix the colors.

Goal: This exercise benefits coordination and helps alleviate stress.

77. Paint different moods. Paint the various moods (sorrow, happiness, depression) you might be feeling in the moment.

Goal: This project helps you develop your empathy.

78. Make your own stuffed animal. Using different materials, you can create a stuffed animal that is comforting or means something to you.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to explore your happiness and find comfort.

79. Create snowflakes out of paper. On each snowflake, write out what you’re grateful for or what makes you unique.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to celebrate you and acknowledge what you’re grateful for.

80. Create a confident mask. Instead of making a mask to hide yourself, make a mask that expresses how you feel and empowers you. Cover the mask in symbols that make you feel strong.

Goal: This mask can help empower you overall or before difficult situations.

81. Make an art journal. Instead of writing, use a different type of journaling — your artwork — to tell a story and represent your emotions as events, both positive and negative, take place in your life.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help deal with your emotions.

82. Pilot your dreams. On a piece of paper, draw a happy dream you’ve had on the left half of the paper and a nightmare on the right half. Fold it into a paper airplane, and let it go.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to recognize trauma or stress in your life in order to overcome it and eventually achieve inner peace by releasing the paper airplane.

83. Create a New Year’s resolution object. Instead of writing down a New Year’s resolution, create an object that visually represents a promise you have made to yourself.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you set a visible goal to inspire your progress.

84. Create your own emblem. Superheroes aren’t the only ones who can have emblems. Create a sign that symbolizes who you are as a person.

Goal: Emblems help create awareness of interests and aspirations.

85. Decorate a souvenir. Use a souvenir as a memory holder and decorate it with abstract or concrete representations of special days from your past.

Goal: The positive memories from these special days will help on the not-so-good days.

86. Make an intention stick or object. Create or find a physical object (such as a stick) that can work as a symbol for strength or comfort, and decorate it with string, feathers, glitter, beads, etc.

Goal: This physical object can provide a reminder of strength and offer peace of mind when you recall its creation.

87. Make a dreamcatcher. Create a dreamcatcher that you can keep with you to encourage good dreams while you sleep.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to create a time of peace and good dreams.

88. Create a stencil. Use cardboard or various other materials to create your own stencil for a more personal drawing.

Goal: This project focuses your creative mind on the tools you need to create works of art.

89. Forgive and create. Decorate a box for a person you wish to forgive. Write the person’s name on a slip of paper and include it inside the box. Decorate the box with nice images and words that represent how you hope to feel by forgiving them.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to draw you closer to your desired inner state of forgiveness.

Architectural Style

90. Map a visual representation of your brain. Draw what you imagine your emotions and thoughts and your brain look like to get a better idea of how your brain works.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you better understand how your mind works.

91. Create an art installation of a safe space. Instead of physically building a safe space for yourself, draw your most realistic version of a safe space you would like to go, filled with meaningful, nostalgic objects.

Goal: This exercise creates a visual “place” for good feelings to enter your mind and body.

92. Design a home. Design your version, no matter how outrageous, of what a home means to you.

Goal: This exercise creates a warm, safe place for you to imagine.

93. Map out the people you have in your life. Draw yourself in the center and then map out all of the connections you can think of in your life and how close each one is to you.

Goal: With a visual representation of the people close to you, you won’t feel so alone.

94. Construct a collage of your stress. Using magazines, newspapers, or old books, create a collage using various images to represent your worries and stressors.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to give expression to your stressors and help you begin to relax.

95. Create a color collage. Use a single color to express the emotions you’re feeling and create art by finding images with that color, writing with that color, and painting with that color, and then collaging with those items.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to help you make sense of your current emotional state.

96. Paint, draw, or collage the things you’re grateful for. Document the things and people you are grateful for in the form of a collage using mixed media.

Goal: This project will help you to feel happy and grateful for the good people and things in your life.

97. Cut and paste a painting to make a collage. Cut up a painting you made and use the pieces to turn it into a collage — a new work of art.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to show how closely related creation and destruction can be.

98. Collage a poem. Cut out random words from old books, newspapers, or magazines to craft your own poem.

Goal: This project will tap into your creativity and inspiration to use found words to write something new.

99. Torn drawing exercise. Rip up a drawing you made and use the pieces to create a new work of art.

Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to unlock new levels of creativity.

100. Self-portrait with words collage. Draw a self-portrait. Cut out words from old books, magazines, newspapers, etc., that represent who you are and paste them around your self-portrait.

Goal: This is an exercise in self-exploration for positive self-thinking and well-being.

1. “ 15 Art Therapy Activities, Exercises & Ideas for Children and Adults ” Positive Psychology.com [cited July 28, 2021] 2. “ Art Therapy Exercises To Try at Home ” PsychCentral, Medically Reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board, August 2011 [cited July 28, 2021] 3. “ COVID-19 Resources for Art Therapists ” American Art Therapy Association, 2017 [cited July 28, 2021] 4. “What Is Art Therapy?” Verywell Mind, Medically Reviewed by Amy Morin, LCSW, July 2021 [cited July 28, 2021] 5. “ Art Therapy Techniques ” AllPsychologyCareers, 2021 [cited July 28, 2021]

Originally Published August 23, 2021 by Lyle Murphy

Lyle Murphy is the founder of the Alternative to Meds Center, a licensed residential program that helps people overcome dependence on psychiatric medication and addiction issues using holistic and psychotherapeutic methods.

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Shelley Klammer

Expressive art inspirations.

~ Fritz Perls

Shelley Klammer

Deal with emotions like anger and sadness through these helpful exercises.

Art therapy can be a great way to relax. Consider these exercises if you're looking to feel a little more laid back.

Art can not only help you deal with the bad stuff, but also help you appreciate and focus on the good. Check out these activities all about reflecting on your personal happiness.

Often, a great way to get to know yourself and your relationships with others is through portraits.

These activities will ask you to face some unpleasant aspects of life, but with the goal of overcoming them.

If you prefer to cut and paste rather than draw or paint, these projects are for you.

Examine aspects if who you are and how you see the world through these art projects.

Here you'll find a collection of projects that will help you be happy about what you have and express your gratitude for it.

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Take a look inside your mind to see what's going on with these projects.

If you're still looking for something to empower, help or soothe you, these projects may fit the bill.

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Art therapy is an approach to mental and behavioral health therapy that uses art-making as a vehicle for expression and tool to improve physical, cognitive and sensory-motor functions. Art therapy is facilitated by masters-level clinicians professional art therapists who follow a scope of practice and adhere to defined ethical standards.

Building Creative Confidence In Art Therapy

But Im not an artistIm no good at art

If you use art in therapy, you have probably heard this worry from your clients. They may be hesitant to try art, express that they are not an artist, say that they are no good at art, or get frustrated with the resulting art piece. Insecurity and lack of confidence around art-making are common concerns that creative therapists need to be prepared to respond to.

Art therapists believe that the process is most important, not the quality of the final product. But sometimes it is hard to help our clients believe this. Even as an art therapist myself, I still struggle at times with insecurity, self-criticism, and lack of confidence in my own artwork, so its no surprise that clients feel this way too.

I recently participated as a speaker in a telesummit that was all about the topic of how to build confidence through creativity. As I have listened to the other speakers over the last few days many of whom are professional artists, not therapists I was thinking a lot about how I address this issue in my therapy practice and what the speakers were sharing that I agreed with .

So, what can we do to help clients engage in art in therapy when they lack confidence?

1. Reframe art-making as play and embrace messiness.

2. try changing the art media., 3. teach techniques to help build competence., 4. focus on creativity for self-expression., 5. dialogue with the inner critic and practice radical acceptance., 7. work small., host virtual art classes.

Its easier than ever to teach in a virtual classroom. As long as you have access to a web camera, resources like Zoom and enable you to share art therapy classes online.

Encourage your students to join into themed classes, like a Halloween or Hogwarts themed class. Or, use an online class to teach a larger group of students new skills. Kids and adults alike are clamoring for hands-on hobbies, like knitting or drawing.

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Can The Art Therapy Exercises For Mental Health Help You

I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality. Frida Kahlo

Mental health is as important as physical health, if not, more important. Its easier to diagnose and treat a body illness than it is to find mental problems.

The following list of 100 art therapy exercises for mental health includes some of the activities I did to escape anxiety, depression or stress. These exercises help you boost your self-esteem and creativity, among other great benefits.

These activities dont have to be perfect or Picasso masterpieces, but your own expression. Just start working on these art therapy exercises for mental health and let your mind go with the flow.

Art Therapy Activities For Teenagers In Your Practice

Art therapy, like other treatment options, requires special training to be done successfully. If you decide to try art therapy activities for teens in your practice, make sure youve done your research and have the necessary knowledge before getting started. If you decide art therapy is right for you and your clients, here are ten art therapy activities for teenagers you can try.

Collage is a great option for clients who might be more self-conscious about their artistic abilities. Using scraps of paper and magazines takes off the pressure to draw something on their own, while still being a creative outlet. You also might be able to gather some clinical information based on images they use.

For your clients who may feel more comfortable writing than drawing, a journal is an easy and natural way for them to express themselves. There are many clinical benefits to journaling , and if your client is inclined to keep a diary of some kind, this might be an easy transition for them to make in therapy. Its also easy for them to do on their own time, and for them to continue doing even after they stop coming to therapy.

Younger clients might enjoy this more, as teenagers and adults might feel that theyve outgrown puppets. But if you work with children, making the puppets together is something creative and fun you can do together. Then your clients can use the puppets to talk for them if they need some distance from a particular subject.

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Goal Setting For Self

This goal-setting exercise can help individuals capture aspects of their life that they currently feel bad about and assign goals to fix them or reduce their impact.

The client begins by considering eight areas of their life and whether or not they have negative aspects, for example:

After considering each area, the client is encouraged to capture any negative aspects in the left-hand column of the provided table. Then, in the right-hand column, they can create a concrete goal describing something they might change.

Activity : Blindfold Drawing

Think of something in your environment, whether its a loved one or an abstract thing like a tree and draw it without looking at your paper. If you need to blindfold yourself, do so. The drawing can be realistic or abstract. The idea of drawing without looking is to help let go of outcomes and become less attached to them. You may feel uncomfortable at first but continue to cultivate self-compassion for yourself and keep going. Self-care IS self-compassion.

Art Therapy Activities For Adult Populations

Although more research is needed to further determine how effective art therapy is with adult populations, there are certain groups for which art therapy appears to be a promising option.

Here are some of the adult populations that could benefit from art therapy:

What Is Art Therapy Counseling

Art Therapy counseling involves making use of artworks done by the individual in the context of art therapy and basing the counseling insights on these artworks.

Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services approach that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active artworks, and creative processes, and it consists of applied psychological theory as well as knowledge of human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Also Check: What To Expect First Therapy Session

Finger Painting Clay Project

Now let’s work on our fine motor skills with the artistic medium of artistic clay. You can use modeling clay for this creative experience because it spreads easily. Make sure your students have at least 3 to 4 colors and a flat surface to create their clay representation. Show them how to use their fingers to push, spread, and mix the clay to form designs.

Learn more: Best Toys for Toddlers

Draw Yourself As A Tree

How to draw yourself as a tree.

Draw a tree with branched roots and a big treetop with lots of leaves . On every root write down your virtues, strengths, skills, and good habits. And on the leaves write everything you would like to improve, all the skills you want to learn and all the habits you want to adopt.

BENEFITS OF DRAWING YOURSELF AS A TREE

Because we so often think about our faults, this is an excellent activity that will get you to think positively about yourself and to remember all your good qualities. And all the skills you are yet to acquire.

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Simple Art Therapy Techniques

1.The masks art therapy ideas. On the prepared stencils, draw the emotions of those masks that you usually wear. This exercise helps you develop empathy skills, listen to yourself, tell your story on behalf of each mask. 2. What is the feminine and masculine art therapy ideas. This is one of the simplest therapeutic art activities. First, it is discussed in groups how to create a collage on a given topic. During the creative process, the opinions of both groups are taken into account. The exercise expands the understanding of social interaction and human behavior. 3. Drawing yourself art therapy ideas. Draw yourself as a plant or animal are the easiest paint therapy ideas. The exercise helps to know yourself, to open your inner world. 4. Scratching art therapy ideas. Graphic work on a soapy lining is velvety due to the scratching of its surface. This exercise improves fine motor skills, relieves emotional stress. 5. Salt drawings art therapy ideas. If you cover colored paper with glue and salt, you get beautiful snowdrifts. You can also use toothpaste by squeezing it along the outline. This exercise develops fine motor skills.

Art Is A Visual Representation Of Your Feelings And Ideas

Self esteem activities, Youth work, Therapeutic activities

Creating art is a great way to help your child process their feelings. If your child is feeling overwhelmed, angry, or sad, get them an art journal and suggest creating drawings of whats going on. Art can help them to externalize their feelings and start to make sense of them.

Expressive Art Therapy Ideas

Supplies: Drawing paper, colored pencils work really nicely, or any other drawing supplies.

Goals & reflection: This is a wonderfully expressive exercise and opportunity to hone in a state a focus. Notice how you feel before and after, and let yourself create anything you desire. You’ll likely enter a soothing space of enjoying the moment.

Create A Piece Of Jewelry

Everything we wear is an expression of who we are. Stringing beads isnt just a therapeutic activity, though, it also gives teenagers a chance to create something they can carry with them every day.

Encourage them to bring in their own beads or provide a variety of shapes and colors for them to choose from.

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A Look At Journaling For Self

At the heart of any journaling practice for self-awareness is honesty. Allowing ourselves to recognize and redirect the self-serving bias enables journaling to increase accuracy in subjective emotional experience. Tracking triggers is quite powerful in decreasing the automated reactions to them.

Someone doesnât have to be a writer to journal for self-awareness. A stream of consciousness journal wonât be reviewed or read by anyone but the writer. It can reveal and enlighten when reread.

Journaling offers insight into changes that could be made and tracked through personal experience. By writing daily, the thread becomes illuminated. It may even help to keep journals for different areas of life .

To get creative, it can be quite helpful to start journaling with prompts that ignite self-discovery. Here are a few examples to get you started:

What Happens In Art Therapy

Art therapy doesnt require any art skills or training for the participants. For those who run it, they generally need to have a masters degree with 120 hours of supervised practice and 600 further hours of supervised art therapy internship.

The general structure of a one-to-one art therapy session includes:

Group sessions can be held less formally, with a group assessment to start with, and then art-making to follow. However, its important to take into account the needs of each individual . Instead of asking them all to draw something similar with one art medium, try coming up with a theme or prompt and giving them the freedom to choose which medium theyd like to use.

We hope the following 12 interactive art therapy group activities for adults will give you a source of inspiration

The Shield Of Strength

We all need to be reminded that we are not alone sometimes. We have things, people, and abilities that help us through our lives. On cardboard or a large colored paper, draw a shield outline with 4 sections for family, friends, skills, and others. Ask your students to come up and fill in the sections with what brings them strength.

Learn more: Hope 4 Hurting Kids

Coming Up With The Concept

Think of an experience or event from your past that still has a negative impact on your life today. It could be something big or small, recent or long ago. Think about what happened, how the event played out, and how it affects you today. Feel free to write your thoughts down if you want. Now think about what you would like to change about yourself as a result of that negative experience. It could be a transformation related to your self-esteem, self-confidence, mental/emotional state, etc.

How Can We Best Measure Self

Many psychological and sociological professionals would argue that the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is the best tool for measuring self-esteem . You will read more about it later in this article. Still, there are other options, and some are especially useful when working with young children.

Here is a brief list of the most-used instruments for evaluating self-esteem in younger populations :

Another possibility while working with adult populations is to assess the stability of self-esteem. To do this, you might use the Self-Esteem Stability Scale. You also could use the Instability of Self-Esteem Scale. You will learn more about these in the More Self-Esteem Tests and Assessments section.

The overall point is that self-esteem, self-concept , self-efficacy , and many other self-related constructs are measurable in some form. The bigger question revolves around the validity and reliability of the various instruments. How do we know that they actually measure what the researchers say that they measure?

Inspirational Quotes On Self

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding about ourselves.

Carl Gustav Jung

You canât get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.

Ernest Hemingway

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.

Michel de Montaigne

Every human has four endowments â self-awareness, conscience, independent will, and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedomâ¦ The power to choose, to respond, to change.

Stephen R. Covey

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Engaging Adults In Art Therapy

As mentioned above, adults often experience similar presenting concerns, but for some adults, things like health, stage of life, family constellation, and other personal circumstances create unique issues that require special attention. That is where art therapy can really shine. The client has control over the art-making process and the art will take them where they need to go.

The client has control over the art-making process and the art will take them where they need to go.

Some adults are not initially open to art therapy. Thats where its helpful to get creative. The Handbook of Art Therapy suggests you offer the following details about art therapy to help put them at ease:

How Does Scoring Work

Determining a persons score on the RSES is fast and easy when using a paper-and-pencil approach.

To better understand this how-to, refer to the RSES questionnaire available at the University of Maryland . The survey has 10 items. Assign a score to each of the items as follows:

For statements 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7:Strongly agree = 3

For statements 3, 5, 8, 9, and 10:Strongly agree = 0Disagree = 2Strongly disagree = 3

You will notice that the Rosenberg Scale includes both positive and negatively worded items. Reversing the assigned response values to half of the questions gives the researcher a picture of the direction of a persons attitude.

For instance, if a person strongly agreed to question 1 and strongly disagreed to question 3, then it is a safe bet that the person has a healthy self-esteem. Of course, we would not reach this conclusion based on only two responses.

Two reasons for reverse-scoring are to reduce boredom and to keep the respondents attention. Sometimes people get into a rhythm of ticking strongly agree every time so that they can finish the survey. Negatively wording some questions keep respondents on their toes.

Tally the scores. Once you have the total, you need to figure out what it means. Scale ranges vary depending on how a researcher decides to assign values. The above example yields a scale with ranges from 0 to 30. The higher the score, presumably, the higher a persons self-esteem.

Does My Health Insurance Cover Therapy

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20 Art Therapy Activities You Can Try At Home To Destress
20 Art Therapy Activities You Can Try At Home To Destress
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COMMENTS

20 Art Therapy Activities You Can Try At Home To Destress
20 Art Therapy Activities You Can Try At Home To Destress Written by Jan Shultis "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." - Pablo Picasso Art therapy is a broad term used to refer to the practice of creating as a way to heal wounds of the mind or spirit.
Art Therapy Exercises To Try at Home
Place your chalk in the middle of the paper, close your eyes and start scribbling. Scribble for about 30 seconds, and open your eyes. Take a close look at your picture, and find an image ("a...
15 Art Therapy Activities & Ideas for Kids (Incl. PDF)
Below are five possible art therapy activities and exercises for children of all ages. 1. Art therapy postcard activity Most people would probably agree that it's easier to express or recognize hurts and regrets when there's the distance between yourself and the problem.
Art Therapy Exercises: 5 Easy Methods to Try at Home
Art Therapy Exercises - Easy, Fun, and Relaxing 1. Visual Journaling 2. Create a Visual Music Piece 3. Draw in the Dark - Free Yourself From Restrictions 4. Map Your Future - A Vision Board 5. Gift an Expressions of Gratitude One Step Further in Art Therapy Exercises Art Therapy Exercises - Easy, Fun, and Relaxing
30+ Creative Art Therapy Exercises (with Pictures)
Art therapy is the practice of using creative expression to help create a sense of inner equanimity and peace. The practice can be used to soften trauma, to assuage anxiety, reduce depression, and boost self-esteem. The best part is: you don't have to be a trained artist to enjoy it.
100 Art Therapy Exercises
Art therapy can be a great way to relax. Consider these exercises if you're looking to feel a little more laid back. Paint to music. Letting your creativity flow in response to music is a great way to let out feelings and just relax. Make a scribble drawing.
Art Therapy Activities Kids And Parents Can Do At Home
Art Therapy Activities at Home. Whether you're using art therapy for anxiety, to build self-esteem or just as an artistic tool to foster better communication between you and your child, remember to keep it fun and to let your child take the lead. Here are just a few fun ideas for at-home art therapy activities. Art Therapy activities for ...
4 Art Therapy Activities To Improve Your Wellbeing At Home
Apart from practising meditation, reading, or something as simple as lighting up your favourite scented candles, art therapy can also be a great self-care activity to help you relax and express your emotions. Contrary to what some may believe, art therapy doesn't require creative talent—what matters is that the artist is enjoying and ...
12 Most Interactive Art Therapy Group Activities For Adults
So, where appropriate, essential oils can be used to complement and enhance art therapy activities. Use a diffuser in the corner or the center of your space to diffuse and spread the scent throughout the room. Some essential oils are even thought to help reduce pain, promote mood and lessen anxiety. See also The five most common essential oils are:
Art Therapy Activities To Develop Self-Awareness
Art therapy activities for self-awareness will inspire you to express your feelings, ideas, thoughts, and concerns in a creative way. They will challenge you to change your thinking patterns, observe life from another angle and think visually. You will experience a decrease in stress and an increase in self-awareness and self-esteem.
Art Therapy at Home
Art Therapy at Home. In these uncertain times, positive mental health and wellbeing is more important than ever - 83% of young people with mental health issues have said that the pandemic has had a negative impact on their mental health. T here are so many ways in which art can help alleviate stress and anxiety.
Art Therapy Activities PDF (5)
Art therapy activities at home can be very simple and include just the bare essentials like paint and paper, or they can be elaborate and make use of the various things found around the house as well, like balloons or socks. Here are some great Art therapy activities to do at home, depending on what your condition is at the moment. ...
Art Therapy Activity Benefits & How To Do It At Home
During a 2016 study, Dr. Kaimal found that 45 minutes of creative activity significantly reduced the cortisol (the stress hormone) levels in three-quarters of the study participants. Creating art ...
Art Therapy Activities PDF (5)
Art therapy activities at home can be very simple and include just the bare essentials like paint and paper, or they can be elaborate and make use of the various things found around the house as well, like balloons or socks. Here are some great Art therapy activities to do at home, depending on what your condition is at the moment.
Art therapy for adults: Activities to help you destress
Art therapy for adults: Activities to help you destress - TODAY Health Art therapy isn't just for kids: Here's how it can help you Here are some activities you can try at home....
100 Art Therapy Ideas and Prompts
Goal: This therapeutic activity will provide you with a visual representation of your feelings and emotional state. Miscellaneous 18. Paint with your hands. Get your hands messy and have a good time with finger painting, spreading the paint, creating shapes and blobs and anything that comes to mind. Goal: Allow yourself to have fun and be messy.
ART THERAPY activity for anxiety, grounding, & mindfulness ...
Are you feeling anxious or overwhelmed? This therapeutic art exercise uses principles of grounding and mindfulness to help manage anxiety and other overwhelm...
100 Art Therapy Exercises
Here is a popular internet list of art therapy activities originally posted up in 2011 by the Nursing School Blog. I have researched current links that reflect the most inspiring art therapy directives on the internet today, keeping them as close as possible to the original list. Enjoy! Shelley Klammer . Emotions
Self Esteem Art Therapy Activities
Therapeutic Art Activity - Authentic Self (self identity, self esteem) Art therapy is an approach to mental and behavioral health therapy that uses art-making as a vehicle for expression and tool to improve physical, cognitive and sensory-motor functions. Art therapy is facilitated by masters-level clinicians professional art therapists who ...
Art Therapy Exercise
http://www.iabet.fi/eng.htmlIn this video I will show you an art therapy exercise which you can do at home with only crayons and paper. Through drawing and w...