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    » Home » Starting The Journey

    15 Art Therapy Ideas to Banish Anxiety and Channel Your Emotions

    Reading time: 3 mins

    by Aletheia · Dec 30, 2020 · 38 Comments

    Image of an artistic colorful woman thinking of some art therapy ideas

    Firstly, let’s get something straight: you don’t have to be an ‘artist’ to benefit from art therapy.

    Your artistic repertoire could consist of drawing stick figures or ugly blobs that resemble pieces of turd and it wouldn’t make a difference. What matters are the emotional and psychological impacts of what you draw, paint or create!

    If you regularly struggle with a lack of focus, restlessness, irritability, anxiety, stress, frustration, depression, anger or any emotions that you have difficulty processing, you absolutely need to consider giving art therapy a serious try.

    Shadow Work Journal Advertisement image

    Like me, your art therapy practice could be as simple as having a cup full of pencils and a drawing pad next to where you work. Here is what mine looks like:

    As you can see, there’s nothing fancy about what I’ve drawn. In fact, from your perspective, this page might look like a bunch of mental vomit that has landed on a perfectly nice piece of paper. In any case, its the benefits that count! And I can tell you that art therapy has had some tremendously positive effects on my ability to focus, process grief, express anger, and relax.

    In this article, you’ll find a bunch of art therapy activities inspired by Russian art therapist and psychologist Victoria Nazarevich.

    What is Art Therapy?

    Art therapy is the safe, creative, and therapeutic process of expressing your inner thoughts, feelings, memories, and experiences through any form of art.

    Art therapy usually involves techniques such as drawing, painting, sculpting, collaging, and other types of crafts that help create more inner self-awareness, understanding, and harmony.

    Those who undergo formal art therapy with trained art therapists are often taught to reflect on their art and examine any emotional or psychological truths that may be inherent in what they create.

    Art Therapy is For Children, Adults, the Elderly – Everyone!

    No matter who you are, where you come from, how old you are or what you do, you can benefit from art therapy. There’s no doubt about it. So if you’re wondering “umm, is this really for me?” the answer is a resounding YES!

    Children, for example, often benefit from art therapy because it helps them to process their emotions and learn the art of self-soothing. Adults benefit from the positive mental health impacts and the elderly benefit from the self-expression and social aspects of doing art therapy with others.

    11 Art Therapy Benefits

    Seeking out an art therapist will help you learn to ‘decode’ the various metaphors, symbols, and non-verbal clues buried in your artwork that reveal hidden wounds, fears, and desires. BUT … not everyone has the means to seek out professional therapy.

    Thankfully, there are many books out there such as 250 Brief, Creative, and Practical Art Therapy Techniques which can help you become your own amateur art therapist. You can even join free online groups (such as those found on various social media platforms like Facebook) dedicated to art therapy, post your artwork, and receive insight from legitimate art therapists if that appeals to you.

    Whether done by yourself (or with an art therapist), here are some wonderful benefits you can expect to enjoy:

    • Improved self-esteem and self-worth
    • Increased ability to self-soothe
    • Stress and anxiety relief
    • Improved emotional intelligence and processing
    • Increased ability to cope with chronic physical illnesses
    • Improved mental health
    • Enhanced problem-solving skills
    • Ability to face past traumas and emotional triggers
    • Improved communication skills
    • Increased focus
    • Emotional and mental catharsis (healthy outlet of self-expression)

    And all this simply by putting a pen to paper!

    15 Art Therapy Ideas and Activities For Beginners

    Now, let’s get to the core of this article, shall we? You will find some amazingly simple and effective art therapy ideas and activities below:

    1. Sadness

    Paint a rainbow:

    Image of an art therapy ideas rainbow drawing

    2. Worried

    Make origami:

    Image of origami art as therapy

    3. Listless

    Draw landscapes:

    Image of a watercolor landscape

    4. Angry

    Draw lines:

    Image of colorful lines drawn to express anger as an art therapy ideas

    5. Focus

    Draw grids and a target:

    Image of drawn grids and a target for concentration

    6. Need to make the right choice

    Draw waves and circles:

    Image of some circles and waves for art therapy

    7. Bored

    Paint with different colors:

    Image of a colorful canvas

    8. Enraged

    Tear a piece of paper:

    Image of a torn piece of paper

    9. Nostalgic

    Draw a maze:

    Image of a maze to express and feel nostalgia

    10. Difficulty understanding wishes

    Make a collage:

    Image of collage art therapy ideas

    11. Confused

    Draw a mandala:

    Image of an art therapy mandala

    12. Stuck

    Draw spirals:

    Image of a spiral drawn on black paper as an art therapy idea

    13. Difficulty understanding feelings

    Draw yourself:

    Image of a sad face drawn on paper as an art therapy idea

    14. Desperation

    Draw roads:


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    Image of roads drawn for art therapy

    15. Need to arrange thoughts

    Draw cells or squares:

    Image of cells and squares drawn for art therapy

    ***

    There are so many benefits of art therapy that it’s worth taking the time to dabble and experiment. The point isn’t to create a beautiful piece of art, the point of art therapy is to express your inner feelings, thoughts, and unconscious struggles.

    I hope these art therapy ideas and activities have inspired you. If you’d like to incorporate artistic self-expression into your inner work practice, see our soulwork coloring book.

    How do you plan to incorporate these art therapy ideas into your life? Please share below along with any other therapeutic activities you already do to banish anxiety and channel your emotions!

    15 Art Therapy Ideas to Banish Anxiety and Channel Your Emotions
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    About Aletheia

    Aletheia is a prolific psychospiritual writer, author, and spiritual mentor whose work has touched the lives of millions worldwide. As a survivor of fundamentalist religious abuse, her mission is to help others find love, strength, and inner light in even the darkest places. She is the author of hundreds of popular articles, as well as numerous books and journals on the topics of Self-Love, Spiritual Awakening, and more. [Read More]

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    Reader Interactions

    (38) Comments

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    1. Vini

      May 14, 2021 at 12:52 am

      I would love an article about art therapy through dance!

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        May 13, 2022 at 2:21 pm

        Thanks for your suggestion Vini!

        Reply
    2. Savannah Barr

      March 23, 2021 at 2:13 pm

      I have high functioning autism and ADHD and anxiety and depression and learning disabilities and asthma

      Reply
      • waste

        January 15, 2022 at 3:10 am

        All this would do is remind me how talentless and unchanging I am. I will never improve. I will always be this deflated wasted thing that I am.

        Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        May 13, 2022 at 2:20 pm

        I hope this article has helped Savannah ♡

        Reply
    3. Malina

      January 25, 2021 at 11:21 am

      I used these on my boyfriend who has very bad anxiety and it seemed to improve how he felt. I love art and loved helping him with something I love.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        May 13, 2022 at 2:21 pm

        Beautiful ♡

        Reply
    4. Emma

      June 28, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      This is an excellent resource, thank you for sharing I am going to use this with some of my mental health patients to aid in their recovery, many blessings to you Luna

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        October 15, 2020 at 10:40 am

        It’s a pleasure to be of service to you and your mental health patients, Emma <3

        Reply
    5. Sabrina

      May 28, 2020 at 8:10 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing these great ideas. I’ve started trying to experiment and try my hand at art to help me heal. I’m a little of a perfectionist, but I’m learning how to let go and create. I really like the bright colors all across the page idea and drawing on paper with the sharpies. One of the projects I’ve been working on is using a fine point sharpie pin to make freeform drawings with words intertwined. I keep trying and hope it helps.

      Reply
    6. joanne wolfe

      May 14, 2020 at 10:48 pm

      Thank you, I feel better already.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        October 15, 2020 at 10:40 am

        Happy to hear that!

        Reply
    7. Maryann Lobo D'Mello

      April 11, 2020 at 10:56 pm

      As a Psychosocial practitioner -cum-psychologist, I have used Art therapy with children as well as adults. Venting feelings & seeking recourse or resolution helps them but it also becomes a medium to express creativity, self appreciation & personal accreditation.
      * On a personal level, as an artist, Art is very therapeutic: it gives me immense peace, joy, acceptance & gratitude.
      Other activities to banish anxiety & channel my emotions are: Poetry composition; my ‘Creative Diary’; Gardening & caring for my potted plants & beautifully large collection of Cacti; Creative writing; Playing the piano; Soprano singing & Creative designing.
      Thanks Luna & Sol for this mission of awareness, awakening, personal evolving & integration & regeneration.
      Maryann

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        April 12, 2020 at 9:14 am

        Thank you for sharing, Maryann. I love the ideas and activities you have shared here that you use in your own life to banish anxiety/channel emotions. This is inspiring!
        Much love,
        Luna

        Reply
    8. Maryann Lobo D'Mello

      April 11, 2020 at 10:53 pm

      As a Psychosocial practitioner -cum-psychologist, I have used Art therapy with children as well as adults. Venting feelings & seeking recourse or resolution helps them but it also becomes a medium to express creativity, self appreciation & personal accreditation.
      * On a personal level, as an artist, Art is very therapeutic: it gives me immense peace, joy, acceptance & gratitude.
      Other activities to banish anxiety & channel my emotions are: Poetry composition; my ‘Creative Diary’; Gardening & caring for my potted plants & beautifully large collection of Cacti; Creative writing; Playing the piano; Soprano singing & Creative designing.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        October 15, 2020 at 10:40 am

        Thank you so much for sharing these wonderfully creative ideas Maryann!

        Reply
    9. Iryna Boreychuk

      December 29, 2019 at 5:24 pm

      She is from Ukraine not Russia.
      The author of these ideas is Ukrainian psychologist so please mark it…
      Thanks

      Reply
    10. Terry

      November 23, 2019 at 11:31 am

      I would appreciate a change in reference. What you are proposing is doing art. This is not Art Therapy.
      Sincerely,
      An Art Hterapist with the training, education, and credentials.

      Reply
      • Karrie

        December 27, 2019 at 10:38 am

        Bless. I mean I get it, but a least one other counselor commented and was not upset so why is that I wonder…maybe you should do some art therapy to work out that frustration.
        Oh come on, that was funny! ;)

        Reply
        • Aletheia Luna

          December 27, 2019 at 2:08 pm

          I disagree Terry. This is therapeutic art inspired by Russian art therapist and psychologist Victoria Nazarevich (as stated clearly in the article). I agree with Karrie’s comment above. :)

          Reply
    11. Treacy

      October 23, 2019 at 7:20 pm

      I really enjoyed that article. Lots of artistic ideas to help work through various emotions. Nice job, thank you Luna!

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        December 27, 2019 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks Treacy!

        Reply
    12. Phil Naron

      August 11, 2019 at 2:03 am

      Our desire to express is primordial.

      It is a timeless, universal human desire.

      It has nothing to do with our
      concept of ‘self’.

      We were born creative but, unfortunately, many of us were led astray by our context.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        August 18, 2019 at 9:36 am

        YES, I very much agree, Phil!
        The very nature of our life force energy is to create, shape, transform. When that’s stifled, and when we adopted this narrative about ourselves that we’re “not artists,” that can be horribly detrimental, not just on an emotional/mental level, but on a spiritual level as well.

        Reply
    13. Phil Naron

      August 11, 2019 at 1:57 am

      Thank you for posting this.

      Your article is well-intended and I hope can be beneficial.

      As an artist for many years, I strongly agree with your concept which, unfortunately, does not get enough coverage.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        August 18, 2019 at 9:32 am

        Yes, it would be wonderful if there were more art therapists in the world – and if the healing that it produces becomes more mainstream. :)

        Reply
    14. Marcel

      August 04, 2019 at 6:39 am

      Hey Sol and Luna,
      your site has helped me incredibly in my journey of self awareness and self love and i cant thank you enough. But please get non mainstream information on the vegan diet. it is extremely unhealthy and malnourishing for the human body and mind. You guys yourself talk about escapism and i think veganism is a way to escape for a lot of people from the fact, that in our reality, life only comes from death. even the plants you eat feast on dead organic matter from the ground. I would love for all the people that seek guidance not get misguided by false dietary advice.
      I would love to hear your comment or provide sources of relieable information on the topic.
      Much love.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        August 04, 2019 at 9:17 am

        Hi Marcel. I’m glad our work has helped.
        This is an article about art therapy, so I’m not sure why you’re talking about veganism here. I’m not sure where the mention of false dietary advice is coming from.

        Reply
        • Marcel

          August 04, 2019 at 10:39 pm

          i thought writing under your latest article was the best way to get you read my comment, im sorry if this has caused any confusion. where should i have written my comment to ignite a conversation?

          Reply
    15. Emilio

      August 01, 2019 at 7:57 pm

      Do you guys have any books?

      Reply
      • Mateo Sol

        August 02, 2019 at 7:21 am

        Yep, quite a few, you can find them in our shop: https://lonerwolf.com/shop/

        Reply
    16. Atraxura

      July 27, 2019 at 9:17 am

      It makes me think of sigil magick. I had never given art therapy very much thought before, but your article lead me to see it as a way of directing the energies of the subconscious in a way that could lead to a great breakthrough.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        July 29, 2019 at 7:26 am

        Influencing the subconscious is definitely one benefit of art therapy. Think of Jung who drew mandalas every morning to organize his unconscious and create inner harmony. ;)

        Reply
    17. Pearl

      July 25, 2019 at 7:05 pm

      These are great ideas! I love that you included different art styles for different emotional states, similar to how you can use different yoga poses to alleviate different emotional states. I’m looking forward to adding these to my toolbox!

      I’ve been doing a lot of inner work and trauma processing this year, and in the last few days I realized that a lot of the art styles, colour combinations, and so forth of things (tarot cards, and now this art therapy) that I didn’t like, or refused to use, wasn’t so much because I didn’t like them, but because I had heard at some point they were tacky or something. Now that I’m finally discovering my “self” after massively improving my alexithymia (emotional/inner blindness), I can enjoy so much more in life because I enjoy it, not because I am living by other people’s idea of what is good or beautiful–and not knowing it, to boot.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        July 29, 2019 at 7:11 am

        Pearl, this is a beautiful and sacred process. Even something as simple as color, shape, and patterns have a profoundly healing effect on the heart, mind, and soul. It’s all about the intention and meaning we bring to it. Thank you for sharing what’s been happening on your journey

        Reply
    18. Lesley

      July 25, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      Great article! I’m a counsellor and have a new client who would really benefit from some of these ideas. I think I’ll try some myself!
      Thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Aletheia Luna

        July 29, 2019 at 7:09 am

        Thanks Lesley, I’m glad to hear they’ve inspired you, and I hope they help your clients!

        Reply
      • Pam

        August 22, 2019 at 4:10 am

        Another exercise to use, which I have found extremely beneficial, sometimes it’s writing and sometimes it’s artwork……but for the individual to talk maybe to their inner child for example by writing or draw/paint to them with their dominant hand. Then to have the individual write or draw/paint with their non dominant hand speaking from the child (or whatever part of yourself that is lost really).

        I was personally blown away when I did that with myself. I was absolutely stunned at what came out. Such brazen raw honesty that cut to the quick, that I could not avoid and was spot on! Something to try!

        Reply

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