Art Therapy: How It Helps the Mind and Who It Suits

Some feelings cannot be spoken, not because you do not want to say them, but because you cannot find the words. I have seen people sit silently through an entire conversation, then, once they had paints and paper in their hands, tell a story they had kept inside for years. That is the power of art to help heal the mind.

What is art therapy?

Art therapy uses the process of making art, such as drawing, painting, sculpting or collage, within a therapeutic relationship, to help people express themselves, understand themselves and manage their emotions.

• No artistic skill is needed. There is no right or wrong picture.
• The process matters more than the product. What happens inside you while you create matters more than how beautiful the picture is.
• The work is yours. The facilitator will not "read your mind" or interpret the picture for you, but will invite you to say what it means to you.

How does it work?

1. It is a way to communicate without words, well suited to complex or painful feelings.
2. It creates a safe distance. Talking about a picture is easier than talking directly about yourself.
3. It helps you stay in the present. Concentrating on colour, line and texture is similar to mindfulness practice.
4. It gives a sense of control. You choose, create and change, which matters a great deal to people who feel their life is out of control.

Art therapy

Wordless communication

• Complex feelings
• Pain too hard to put into words

Safe distance

• Easier to talk about the image than yourself
• Open up at your own pace

Staying in the present

• Focus on colour, line, touch
• Similar to mindfulness

Sense of control

• You choose, create, change
• Matters when life feels out of control

You don't need to draw well; the process matters more than how the picture looks.

What does the evidence say?

• A systematic review by Uttley and colleagues (2015) in Health Technology Assessment found that art therapy was associated with improved symptoms in people with non-psychotic mental health conditions in most studies, though each study was small.
• A study by Kaimal and colleagues (2016) found that 45 minutes of making art was associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in most participants, even those with no art background.
• In severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, the evidence is still unclear.

Can help

• Reduces stress and helps relaxation
• Helps express feelings
• Symptom improvement in non-psychotic mental health problems
• Can be used alongside main treatment

Not a substitute for

• Medicine or psychotherapy in severe depression
• Treatment of bipolar disorder
• Treatment of schizophrenia (evidence unclear)
• Assessment when having thoughts of self-harm

vs

Based on Uttley et al. (2015) and Kaimal et al. (2016). Most studies are small.

Who leads the process?

In many countries, art therapists must complete postgraduate training in both art and psychology. In Thailand the profession is still growing. There are also therapeutic art activities run by trained health professionals, which focus on relaxation and self-expression. Before joining, ask what training the facilitator has and what the activity aims to do.

Example activities

• Draw today's mood: use colours and shapes to represent your feelings.
• A picture of yourself in the past, present and future.
• A family map: draw the people at home as symbols, which helps open up conversation within the family. Read more in family therapy.
• A couple's shared picture: draw on the same sheet of paper without talking, then discuss how it felt. It helps reveal the couple's communication patterns. Read common couple problems.
• Clay modelling: for people who need a physical outlet for anger or pent-up feelings.
• A memory box: for families facing loss or caring for someone at the end of life. Read palliative care.

Who is it for?

• People who are stressed, emotionally drained or burnt out and want time to rest their mind
• People who find it hard to talk about feelings
• Children and teenagers, who often communicate more easily through pictures than words
• People with chronic illness and their carers
• People with repeated health worries after a risk exposure; read STI anxiety
• Couples and families who want a new way of communicating

Art for wellbeing at Kris Care Space

Kris Care Space is a service of Dr. Kris Clinic that offers a safe space to express feelings through art and activity therapy, alongside couples and family counselling. The focus is not on skill but on expressing yourself and being yourself, whether on that day you feel happy, sad, stressed or just want to rest your mind. Sessions can be held in English.

If you have symptoms of depression, ongoing insomnia or thoughts of harming yourself, see a doctor for an assessment first. You can also call 1323, Thailand's free 24-hour mental-health hotline (Thai language; ask for English support).