Art crafting and therapy often gets boxed into a handful of stereotypes and can be either a guided session as well something on your own. Many individuals may need an actual group lesson while others enjoy the individual aspect of creating. Some people picture it as just “arts and crafts,” while others think it’s only for kids or an activity to simply pass the time. My experience, as someone who has searched for a craft idea to reduce anxiety or stress, tells a different story. This is why I created Crafted Calmness to clear things up and show how art therapy crafting actually works, who it can help, and why it’s worth considering.
What Is it?
Art therapy goes beyond glue sticks and coloring books. At its core, the therapy uses creative processes as a way to support mental health, healing, and personal growth. The focus isn’t on making “good” art but on using creative activities to express thoughts, feelings, and experiences that might be hard to put into words. However, working on an individual craft can show real value as well in the process: creating, reflecting, and having a community to help interpret, guide, and ask questions. The process is flexible and meets each person where they are emotionally and creatively.
Common Myths About Art Therapy
- You need to be good at art. This idea keeps a lot of people away, but it isn’t true.
- Art therapy is only for children. Adults use art therapy too, and research shows it can be super useful for stress, trauma, anxiety, grief, and even big life changes.
- It’s just for fun or a casual activity. While it might be relaxing, others discover crafting art to be deeply challenging or meaningful, depending on your goals.
- It replaces traditional talk therapy. While this is helpful, art crafting becomes a therapy of calmness, relaxation, or decompressing.
Science and History Behind Art Therapy
The roots of art therapy go back to the mid-20th century, when psychologists and artists realized that creating images could reveal things that words sometimes miss. Today, it’s a recognized field, with training and certification requirements (check out the American Art Therapy Association for more details on that). There’s a growing body of research that shows art therapy can:
- Reduce anxiety and depression symptoms (see this research summary on mental health and art-making).
- Help people process trauma and grief, build self-esteem and coping skills.
- Support neurodiverse people (like those on the autism spectrum or with ADHD) in expressing emotions.
Brain imaging studies have found that creative activity lights up areas linked to emotional regulation, problem-solving, and even reward pathways. This helps explain why it feels satisfying, even for folks who initially say they’re “not creative.”
The idea of using creativity for healing goes back even further, with examples in ancient cultures where art played a role in rituals and emotional expression.
How Art Therapy Sessions Work
Setting up your own space is something that helps your creativity work as well as a setup in a studio session at most studios or clinics. You’ll find a range of materials like paints, markers, collage paper, even clay, and you can usually pick what draws you in. If you meet virtually, the activities can be based on what you have at home. The approach is totally different from an art class. No one’s correcting technique or instructing you on how to “improve” your work. It’s about what the process brings up emotionally and mentally.
Who Can Benefit from Art Therapy?
Art therapy isn’t limited to one age group, personality type, or diagnosis. Here’s a quick list of people who might benefit:
- Anyone looking for decompressing thoughts or feelings, dealing with stress or anxiety
- Adults coping with depression
- Anyone dealing with trauma, PTSD, or grief
- Kids and teens working through behavioral or adjustment issues
- Older adults adjusting to memory changes or loss
- People with chronic illnesses or disabilities
- Anyone who’s “stuck” in traditional talk therapy or looking for a new approach
I know people who found regular talk therapy too direct or difficult. Using art gave them another way in, making it easier to work through tough stuff. Others use art therapy as a self-care tool or to unlock creativity during stressful life changes, like divorce, career change, or retirement.
Crafting can be popular in group settings, such as support groups for cancer survivors, people recovering from addiction, or those healing from trauma. The process can foster a sense of connection and shared experience. In schools, art is used to help children with social challenges, learning disabilities, or family struggles, giving them a nonverbal outlet to express what’s going on in their world.
Challenges and What to Consider Before Starting
- Letting go of “perfection” thinking: If you’re a perfectionist, it’s easy to worry your art isn’t “good enough.” Therapists encourage focusing on the process, not the result. Getting used to this mindset can take a little practice, but it’s pretty freeing once you get there.
- Setting goals: Art therapy isn’t always about “fixing” something right away. Sometimes the benefits show up gradually or in unexpected ways, so setting flexible goals helps.
- Patience with the process: It can take a few sessions to feel comfortable or see changes. If you’re new to therapy in general, just showing up is a great start.
- Choosing a therapist who’s the right fit: Like any therapy, the relationship matters. If a group or therapist’s style doesn’t work for you, it’s totally reasonable to switch and find someone who does.
Art Materials
If you decide to give crafting art a try, you don’t need anything fancy to start. A pack of colored pencils or material scraps works just fine as over time, your materials will develop as you do. Different materials can evoke different responses. The range of materials supports everyone from those who like to doodle to folks who want to experiment with texture and color. The important thing is to focus on what feels right for you.
Advanced Tips for Getting More from Art Therapy
Once you feel comfortable with the basics, there are some simple ways to get even more out of art therapy sessions:
- Keep an art journal between sessions. You might be surprised by patterns that show up over time.
- Share your reflections honestly. If you felt frustrated, blocked, or worried that your art “wasn’t good,” mention it. That’s valuable info for both you and a therapist, or the group you are in.
- Stay open to new materials or prompts. Mixing up activities sometimes helps you stumble upon new aspects of yourself or a challenge you’re facing.
- Connect art with other mindfulness activities. Some people combine art with music, meditation, or outdoor walks, using art-making as part of a super detailed self-care routine. You can even try drawing after meditation to express shifting moods or insights. This adds some variety to your healing process and keeps things fresh.
And if you’ve ever felt “stuck” remember artwork can sometimes spark a breakthrough or helpful discussion with those closest to you. You might even track down new solutions or emotional patterns by sharing your visual creations.
Remember, crafting art opens up creative and meaningful ways to explore, manage, and heal from life’s challenges. It’s a flexible approach that adapts to you, not the other way around. That’s what makes it really worth a try, especially if typical therapy hasn’t felt like the right fit.