What Is Art Therapy and How Does it Work?
Not all healing happens through words.
Sometimes, the things we carry live deep inside us.
They show up as tightness in the chest, a wave of emotions, or a heavy kind of sadness that doesn’t have a name.
Other times, it’s hard to even know what we’re feeling until we start moving our hands — sketching, painting, or moulding something out of clay.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we’re a London Ontario spiritual therapy collective.
We believe healing can be both creative and spiritual.
That’s why, along with our many different therapeutic modalities, we offer art therapy.
Art therapy can be a gentle, supportive way to explore your inner world.
This is especially true when talking feels too hard, too fast, or just not quite right.
Art therapy invites you to express yourself using colours, shapes, images, and symbols.
It’s not about making “good” art — it’s about allowing what’s inside, out.
This week on our therapy blog, let’s take a closer look at art therapy.
What is art therapy?
What happens in an art therapy session?
Who is art therapy best suited for?
And how effective is art therapy?
For the answer to these, and many other questions, keep reading.
What Is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a type of mental health support that uses art as a way to explore emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
It’s a form of psychotherapy — which means it’s done with a licensed psychotherapist.
But instead of only using words, art therapy adds a creative layer.
You might use paint, pastels, markers, collage, clay, or even found objects to express what’s going on inside.
But what sort of art skills do you need to do art therapy?
None.
It’s not about knowing how to draw.
And it’s definitely not about being “talented.”
Art therapy is about expression, not perfection.
In fact, many people who come to art therapy haven’t so much as looked at a paintbrush since childhood.
But once they do, something can shift.
It becomes easier to explore hard feelings.
The creative process can make space for joy, for grief, for insight — and for healing.
Some people create images of what they’re feeling.
Others focus on shapes, colours, or textures.
Some people talk while they create.
Others make their art in silence.
It all depends on what you need, and what feels safest in the moment.
What Happens During an Art Therapy Session?
Art therapy sessions usually take place one on one or in a small group.
Each session is guided by a certified art therapist — someone trained in both psychology and the creative arts.
Your session might begin with a gentle check-in.
Your art therapist might ask you how you’re feeling, or if there’s something you’d like to explore.
Then, you’ll be invited to create.
You might be given materials to choose from — like pencils, paint, or clay.
Your therapist might also suggest a prompt.
Maybe they will suggest drawing what your anxiety feels like, or what safety feels like.
You don’t have to explain your art unless you want to.
But often, just creating something on the page can open a window into feelings that were hard to reach before.
Your therapist may invite you to reflect on what you’ve made.
What did you notice while you were creating?
How does it feel to look at it now?
What stands out to you?
There’s no judgment, and no wrong answers.
Some sessions are quieter, focused on the process of creation as it pours from you.
Others are deeper, more emotional, with a lot of exploration.
All of them are held with the deepest of care.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we also recognize the importance of ritual and intention.
That’s why ritual integration therapy can be a part of your art therapy experience as well.
Your art therapist will offer a space where you can include any of your personal rituals, as you see fit.
You may wish to light a candle, set a grounding intention, say a prayer, or draw a tarot card to begin or end your session.
The goal is to create a space where you’re best able to express yourself.
What Is Art Therapy Best Used For?
Art therapy can help with many emotional and mental health challenges.
It’s especially helpful when:
You’ve experienced trauma
You’re feeling anxiety , stress, or burnout
You’re living with depression
You struggle with body image or low self-esteem
You find it hard to talk about what you’re feeling
You want to reconnect with your creativity and intuition
It’s also a gentle support for people who are neurodivergent, live with chronic illness, or have experienced marginalization.
Sometimes, just being able to express yourself in a different way — one that doesn’t rely on words — can feel incredibly freeing.
Art therapy is also helpful for children and teens, who may not always have the vocabulary to explain what’s going on inside.
Even if you’re not dealing with a specific “issue,” art therapy can still be a powerful tool for self-discovery, creativity, and growth.
RELATED: Anxiety Psychotherapist in London Ontario
What Are the Goals of Art Therapy?
Every person comes to art therapy with different needs.
Some are looking to understand their feelings.
Others are hoping to process past experiences.
And some are simply seeking a quiet space to be themselves.
Whatever your goal is with art therapy, at The Witch’s Therapist, we’ll work to honour your unique needs and your journey.
Art therapy is not about fixing you.
It’s about witnessing you.
Your art becomes a mirror, a companion, and a record of your journey.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we hold space for all of it — the messy, the beautiful, the quiet, and the wild.
How Do I Know if Art Therapy Is Right for Me?
If you’ve ever felt stuck in traditional talk therapy, art therapy might be a refreshing shift.
If you’re someone who feels deeply but struggles to explain it, art therapy may give you a new way to connect with yourself.
If you’re drawn to colour, creativity, or symbolism, you may feel right at home in art therapy.
Ask yourself:
Do I often feel overwhelmed by emotions I can’t name?
Do I enjoy making things, even if I don’t consider myself an artist?
Am I looking for a softer, more intuitive way to explore my mental health?
Do I want a therapy approach that honours both my emotional and spiritual self?
If you said yes to any of these, art therapy could be a beautiful fit.
You don’t need a diagnosis.
You don’t need to be in crisis.
You just need to be curious.
Book Your Appointment with The Witch’s Therapist Today
At The Witch’s Therapist, we know that healing is not one size fits all.
That’s why we offer art therapy as part of our holistic, trauma-informed care.
Whether you’re navigating depression, anxiety, identity exploration, or just feeling lost — you are welcome here.
We’ll meet you with open hearts and open minds.
We’ll help you reconnect with your creativity — the part of you that’s always known how to heal.
You don’t have to do this alone.
You don’t even have to find the right words.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we’re here to help.
Book your FREE 15-minute intro session with The Witch’s Therapist today.
The Witch's Therapist
242 Dundas St.
London, Ontario
Canada
N6A 1H3
1-226-977-1660
► London Ontario Holistic Psychotherapy
The Witch's Therapist is located in London, Ontario and offers holistic psychotherapy therapy throughout London and surrounding areas.