Creative Arts Therapy

Hi everyone, and thanks for being here to read the Center Street Psychology Blog! If this is your first time here, please explore some of our other posts on attachment styles, communication tools, and sleep hygiene (especially if that time change is hitting hard!). This week, was Creative Arts Therapy Week. Let’s dive into that!

Creative Arts Therapy covers various interventions that blend mental health/therapy/counselling with art, music, dance, poetry, and other forms of expressive mediums. Some therapists are trained and registered as art therapists, and some therapists solely incorporate creative activities into their therapy style. The fascinating thing about creative arts therapy is that it doesn’t necessarily depend on using words. The therapeutic effect comes from the creativity itself, making these types of therapies ideal for children, people who are non-verbal, or clients who are experiencing large amounts of trauma and may not be able to put words to their experiences. This type of therapy encourages people to self-explore and self-reflect without fear of judgment, shame, or worry. It also allows people to externalize concerns; for example, drawing what anxiety looks like, or showing how anger looks through movement. Externalizing helps people see their problems as separate from themselves, which can create positive changes in self-talk, self-criticism, and self-judgement.

So what can you do to learn more?

This website https://thearttherapyproject.org/blog/creative-arts-therapies-2024 has interviews with art, drama, dance, and music therapists explaining their different roles and the ways they work with clients

This YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN2rTaFUlxs explains some of the science behind creative arts therapy.

Please reach out to us at Center Street Psychology. We provide uniquely tailored therapeutic plans and interventions to support you and collaborate on your personal wellness goals. We are an inclusive clinic located in Calgary, Alberta that provides in-person and virtual psychological services across Canada in the evenings and weekends. Please text or call 403-399-5120 to talk to our Director of Client Care, Amy, who will guide you through the intake process.

Written by: Lindsay Mcnena