When you learn about the high rates of mental health conditions amongst famous artists and creative types, it makes sense that there is a lot of cross over between art and emotions.
Uses of art and creativity in counselling
Art is often used as a way to express emotions, an outlet for the feelings swirling around in our heads. Using words, images or movement we can make the internal external. This can have many benefits, freeing up space in our minds or allowing us some distance from a negative emotion. Sometimes we can't find the words for something and using other mediums can expand our vocabulary to find a way to share something previously stuck inside of us.
Creative activities can also help us to explore events, emotions or even ourselves. We can use them to dig deeper than our initial thoughts or feelings, finding ways in which different parts fit together - or perhaps reasons they don't.
But I'm not good at art!
The counselling room is a safe space and so no one is going to be grading you on your efforts! Besides the purpose of this kind of creativity is not to be 'pretty' or 'good', the only purpose is to help you - so who cares if it looks a bit wonky or strange. Art can help us connect with our raw childlike self and so if you think "it looks like a 5 year old drew it" then you're probably doing something right!
In the counselling room we can use writing, drawing, clay, collage or objects. That means if you aren't comfortable with one style there is always another option to try. No judgement, just experimenting and finding what works for you!
What creative activities might look like
There are as many ways to use art and creativity as there are people, so although I can't give you even close to an exhaustive list, I can give you a couple of examples:
Drawing - we might draw out a spider diagram to explore something's impact on us or a time line to look at how we got to where we are now. If there is something that is too hard to say we might draw something to represent that thing until we are ready to say it in another way.
Ice breakers - we might use objects or prompt cards to help get the ball rolling when exploring something. Sometimes clients have a week where they are overwhelmed and just don't have the words and so starting out with an activity where simple questions are provided helps them become less stuck.
Association - sometimes when telling a complex story it helps to use props to represent the people or events involved. We arrange them in relation to each other to show how events unfolded or how it seemed to us. This can also expand to tapping into our unconscious by examining why we have picked particular objects to be those characters in our lives.