The Benefits of Creative Expression and Movement
Every single person who take that first, brave, step in asking for help deserves to be met with empathy, respect and be met exactly where they are at. While a therapeutic relationship is supposed to challenge you to connect more deeply within yourself and find your inner resilience to overcome obstacles, the first and most important element of building a therapeutic alliance between a clinician and client is building trust. Creative expressive therapy modalities are a crucial part of what we use to build effective and trusting relationships with clients of all ages. It is also one of the most effective forms of treatment in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD and so much more.
Art and play therapy is a safe, creative, and expressive form of treatment that many of our clients have experienced the benefits of. When working specifically with children, it allows us to connect with them in their main language/method of communication: creativity and imagination. When working with adults, it gives non-verbal language to difficult to process emotional experiences and helps them notice common themes and patterns in their lives. It provides a safe and supportive way for them to process difficult situations, gain a better understanding of their thoughts and emotions, and cope with these intense emotions by expressing them in a thoughtful and creative way.
I, as well as my wonderful colleagues, consistently integrate creative expression into our therapeutic approach and encourage those we work with to incorporate forms of creative expression outside of their sessions as a part of their healing journey. You do not need to be an artist to experience the benefits of Art therapy nor to you need to be a child to benefit from the experiences of play therapy. As a matter of fact, there are probably things you are doing already that you may not even realize are forms of creative expression. Whether your goal is to reduce stress and anxiety, process and identify your emotions, or find language to express a difficult to process experience the sky is the limit when tapping into your creativity and imagination. I hope some of the following helps you feel a bit more connected to yourself and inspires you to connect creatively!
Listening to Music
I want you to think of the last time you listened to a song that moved you. What was the song? How did it move you? Did you move your body, sing, cry? Music elicits some of the most powerful emotional experiences. It’s why we get goose bumps when we hear something that truly touches us. Creating playlists that match different moods and listening to them when we are needing that level of connection can be a great way to process and move through an emotional experience.
Movement
Dance, walk, run, go to the gym, stomp your feet, shake out the sillies. If you are someone who feels restless at times, or notice that when you try to do something calming by way of stillness that it makes you feel worse, your body may be calling for movement. Jump up and down, put on that playlist and dance like no one is watching…because no one is watching. Give yourself permission to be and shake it all out!
Painting and Coloring
You don’t have to be an artist to enjoy painting, drawing, and coloring! These activities can help reduce levels of stress and anxiety as it helps to shift a person’s mind to a more relaxing, calming state. Whether you draw a picture depicting how you are feeling, do a color-by-number worksheet with colored pencils, or create an intuitive painting, art can be enjoyed by all ages!
Journaling
Journaling is the process of writing down our thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Some people will keep a daily journal, whereas other people may use it to help them process difficult events and come up with solutions. Journaling can be as formatted or unformatted as you need it to be. It’s yours and yours alone. If you are having trouble getting started, try free writing. Start with the first thig that comes to mind even if it’s, “I don’t know what to say and I feel silly doing this.”
