What is expressive therapy?

Expressive Arts Therapy has emerged in the past several decades as an innovative approach toward health in our contemporary society.  Combined with traditional talk therapy, the arts can be incorporated into sessions to explore issues and themes and help create new healthy patterns in your life.  Previous arts experience is not required, and the emphasis is on the creative process rather than the product.  Through intermodal artistic expression, inner resources are identified and strengthened to overcome obstacles and reach toward one's greatest potential.  Couples and families use the expressive arts therapies to develop relationship skills and improve interpersonal dynamics.  Children and adolescents naturally use creativity to express themselves, and in a therapeutic process, are provided with tools and opportunities to build resilience and meet the challenges of their life circumstances.

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Books

The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts As Healing by Natalie Rogers
Art as Medicine by Shaun McNiff
Poesis: The Language of Psychology and the Speech of the Soul by Steven K. Levine

Articles

"Expressive Therapies: History, Theory, and Practice" by Cathy Malchiodi
"Person-centered Expressive Arts Therapy" by Natalie Rogers
"Could the Expressive Arts Therapies Help Your Child?" by Banana Splits, Children's Support Group

Websites

International Expressive Arts Therapy Association - www.ieata.org
Lesley University's Expressive Therapies Division - www.lesley.edu/gsass/56etp.html