Healing Through Art Therapy

By Heba Akhdar | Arts and Entertainment | Jan. 31, 2025

While at Stanton College Preparatory School, students face various challenges and emotions influencing their overall well-being. A common way students deal with these circumstances is through various forms of art. Outside of Stanton, the practice of art being a tool for personal healing is known as art therapy. This process utilizes mediums of art to process internal emotions beneficially, therefore helping people manage and maintain their wellness. Nonverbal ideas, thoughts, or even traumas can be conveyed through creative works. Art therapy has become an invaluable resource, assisting individuals in improving their quality of life.

A primary function of art therapy is to act as a decompressing mechanism. According to the American Art Therapy Association, when people face challenges that cannot be explained verbally, they use art to alleviate their stressors. The art created from therapy is not crafted with an intended purpose, nor is it meant to be perfect. Instead, one of its appeals comes from its focus on the healing process rather than the finished product.

“Art gives them something tangible to reflect on,” said Devon Schlegel, clinical director of the Indigo Art Therapy Studio located in Jacksonville. “[While] it is easy to just put words to [an event], it does not fully depict the experience. Making art allows for a deeper understanding and creates something both client and therapist can process together.”

This deeper understanding can be achieved through using different mediums of art. Art therapy can be conducted through music, literature, visual arts, and other forms as outlets for self-expression and personal growth. Each medium has its own strengths appealing to different people. Some prefer listening to therapeutic music such as meditation music, while others may feel more comfortable engaging in a physical art form. While the most popular forms of art therapy involve drawing and painting, physical art can range from pottery to even design and architecture.

“Drawing and painting are typically the most approachable mediums [but] there are many things to take into consideration when deciding what materials to use with the client,” 

said Schlegel. “Art materials offer different structures. Colored pencils offer control and provide structure. On the other side of the spectrum, there are art materials that are hard to control like watercolor paint or clay. The art material is a metaphor for release and control.”

In art therapy, diversity and inclusivity are heavily emphasized. All participants bring their own experiences and social circumstances to each session, making every session unique. Culture is one of the most important influences on the emergence of art therapy. Exploring cultural richness contributes to the artistic value of the practice. Certain aspects of various cultures have also become a custom in the practice. For example, drawing or coloring mandalas are typical activities when partaking in art therapy. Additionally, providing a diverse representation of various backgrounds allows for an inclusive therapeutic environment. 

“Art therapy is inherently therapeutic and has been used throughout cultures for hundreds of years,” said Schlegel. “Since I have joined the field, there has been more acknowledgement of the various cultures and societies that influenced art therapy.”

The practice of healing through art is not limited to certain groups or demographics. It can be used to help people of all ages and backgrounds cope with difficulties or stressors they face. Feelings such as anxiety and depression are prevalent among people of varying races, classes, and ages. Art therapy can assist them with personal struggles traditional therapies cannot. More commonly, art therapy is used to aid children who struggle with communication and adults who have experienced childhood trauma. In this regard, it is utilized for its medicinal benefits where clinical experts employ both psychology and art to help participants.

“For kids and teens, [art therapy] gives them a different language. For adults, art provides an opportunity for [them] to try something they [believed] they were not good at,” said Schlegel. “[Art therapy is] deeper than just words. Therapy is for anybody who wants some perspective on their lives and relationships with others and themselves.”

The practice of using art as therapy can be traced back to the early 20th century when psychiatrist Margaret Naumburg first introduced art as a tool to improve mental well-being, incorporating Freudian theories in her sessions. Later on, the term art therapy was officially coined by Adrian Hill who used it for health purposes. In medical settings, art therapy was first implemented to help soothe the symptoms of tuberculosis patients. Since then, it has continuously aided people suffering from both physical and mental illnesses.

Research indicates art therapy can play a major role in relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety. In clinical studies conducted by researchers such as Professor David Gussak, art therapy has proven to be effective in promoting mental health. According to Crown Counseling, art therapy can reduce symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety by 73%.

Various studies have demonstrated how art can be used as a support mechanism to help those dealing with serious illnesses. In one study published by the National Cancer Institute in 2019, 71% of cancer patients who engaged in art therapy reported a reduction in anxiety levels. Research has also shown how trauma survivors, including veterans, reported less Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms and significant improvements in mental health after participating in art therapy sessions. People still affected by traumatic experiences have the opportunity to heal through art, fostering resilience and personal growth.

Although art therapy can involve elements of traditional therapy, there are differences between both practices. Art therapy creates methods of healing through the process of creating art works, whereas traditional therapy focuses on identifying specific emotions and thinking processes. In practice, art therapy is centered around using art as a form of communication while traditional therapies rely on verbal communication about feelings and thoughts. Despite their differences, both professional fields provide guidance and support for clients. 

The practice of art therapy is distinguishably different from simply partaking in art. For art to be considered therapy, it must be administered by a licensed professional. These therapists possess a heightened sense of emotional intelligence due to their experiences and education which enriches the therapeutic experience. 

“Art therapists are trained similarly to how talk therapists are trained,” said Schlegel. “If you are going to art therapy, you are going to therapy.”

Despite the activity not truly being therapy when done at home, art can still be helpful for students at Stanton who manage to utilize art in a restorative process independently. Especially for students, there are several appeals to using art to decompress. Extensive schoolwork and extracurricular activities may leave high schoolers feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Art can help them relieve suppressed emotions in a safe, non-judgmental way.

“Art helps me relax and enjoy being lost in the moment without worrying about my problems,” said junior Sharanya Medimi. 

Within Stanton, there are some clubs and organizations who incorporate art into their meetings. For instance, Stanton’s Knitting Club implements art on a bimonthly basis by allowing students to create intricate patterns and designs. Creating these arrangements requires concentration allowing for mental clarity. In this way, students can experience emotional healing without anxious thoughts of schoolwork. According to members of the club, knitting also assists students with de-stressing.

“[Knitting] is a calming craft that gives [students] the space to sit with their thoughts and feelings,” said junior Indiana-Jones Pulumbarit, secretary of the Knitting Club. “It serves as a creative outlet for self-expression through the different colors, stich types, and patterns they can incorporate into a project.”

Through high school clubs, students can incorporate therapeutic purposes of art into their lives at an early age. This will in turn allow them to develop healthy habits transferring into their adult life. The consistent use of this practice empowers individuals to manage their emotions with resolve.

Although some students may desire to take the initiative to see a professional art therapist in their free time, prices can be out of reach for many of them. This may deter some students from participating in art therapy. According to Everyday Health, prices range from $100-$200 for a 60-minute session. This is inaccessible to most people, especially for students who are still in high school and are largely not able to afford this cost. They then must rely on other alternatives to support their mental health. 

Because of factors like the price of scheduling art therapy appointments, professional art therapy is not a popular practice among those at Stanton. Even if students can afford the price, there are few local art therapy institutes to access. To compensate for actual therapy, some students seek their own healing through art independently. 

“I use music and other types of art to calm myself down,” said sophomore Sameer Hereiki. “It helps me study faster and destress.”

Stanton also provides students different chances to engage in various mediums of art. For example, during Blue Devil Periods, teachers offer students the opportunity to paint glass, sculpt, or participate in other art practices to relax amid the stresses they face. These activities are designed to allow students to prioritize their emotional well-being while in school.

From students facing difficulties in school to adults experiencing trauma, art therapy is meant for everyone. Although some believe it is reserved for people who are experienced with art, in reality, there are no requirements to partake in it. The product of art therapy is simply a representation of the emotions expressed during the healing process. 

“You do not have to be good at art to do art therapy,” said Schlegel. “Adults at some point were told they were either good or not good at art, which [affected] their relationship with art their whole lives. In art therapy sessions, we help them unlearn that.”

 The practice of art therapy promotes the healing journey of various individuals. It is a curative process, allowing participants to express themselves in a positive way. The combination of art and mental health within the therapy benefits people of diverse backgrounds and demographics. For students at Stanton, art can be an effective resource that helps them manage stress and stimulates their personal growth, greatly improving their well-being for years to come.