Why Art Therapy Is Expanding
by Lista Spensley-Tagornak, RCC, MCP:AT
Across cultures and generations, humans have always found ways to express what is happening inside of them, and we still do. Sometimes we do this through words, but often through creating. Whether it is drawing, writing, moving, singing, or arranging objects from nature, we are naturally wired to make meaning through creativity.
There is a word for this: poiesis (pronounced poy-EE-siss). It means bringing something from the inside into form, and originates from Greek. Even if we have never heard the term, most of us have experienced it. It might look like doodling when we feel overwhelmed, playing music to shift our mood, or going for a walk and collecting things that simply feel meaningful.
This is not new. Creative expression, storytelling, movement, and art-making have long been recognised as essential to wellbeing, connection, and healing. These practices have been carried through generations as part of community life, ceremony, and relationship with the land. What we are seeing now is that Western mental health systems are beginning to more fully recognise this wisdom. Through research and evidence-informed practice, there is growing awareness of the role creativity plays in supporting emotional, physical, and relational health. In many ways, art therapy is a meeting place between longstanding ways of knowing and contemporary clinical approaches.
Art therapy builds on this human instinct. It is a form of therapy where a trained professional supports individuals and/or groups in using creative expression to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is not about being “good at art,” but about using the creative process to understand ourselves, regulate emotions, and feel more connected. Today, art therapy is expanding across schools, healthcare, and community settings, not because it is new, but because its value for wellbeing is becoming more widely recognized.
Why Talking Isn’t Always Enough
Many people think of therapy as talking, and for some, that works well. But not everything we experience can easily be put into words. Sometimes our bodies hold onto feelings, memories, or stress in ways we do not fully understand, especially when navigating trauma, overwhelm, or long-term stress. Sometimes people might feel something strongly but not know how to explain it.
Art therapy offers another way in. Instead of searching for the “right words,” people can use colours, shapes, images, or materials to express what is happening inside. This can feel more manageable and less overwhelming. In my work as an art therapist, I often see how creating allows people to gently explore their inner world. The art can hold part of the experience, so the person does not have to carry it all at once. Over time, this can support a greater sense of safety, regulation, and reflection. This aligns closely with trauma-sensitive practice, which recognises that feeling safe in our bodies comes before making sense of our experiences.
It Can be for Everyone
One of the most meaningful aspects of art therapy is its accessibility. You do not need to be artistic. Many people begin by saying, “I’m not good at art, can’t even draw a straight line,” and that is completely okay. In art therapy, there is no right or wrong way to create. The focus is on the process, not the product.
There are also many ways art can be introduced, using different materials and approaches (such as drawing, painting, collage, clay, movement, music, writing, or natural objects) to meet individuals and/or groups where they are, including their readiness and comfort with using art for exploration and expression.
For children, art is often their first language. They naturally draw, play, and imagine as a way of expressing themselves, and art therapy meets them there. For adults, it can be an opportunity to reconnect with creativity in a way that feels safe and supported, especially after years of self-judgement or disconnection from that part of themselves.
People come to art therapy for many reasons, including stress, burnout, grief, life transitions, or a desire to understand themselves more deeply. For older adults, it can support reflection, meaning-making, and connection to what they want to carry forward. Because of its flexibility, art therapy can be used in many settings, from one-on-one support to shared group spaces.
The Power of Relationship
At its core, art therapy is not just about making art. It is about connection. The relationship between the therapist and the person is central, and feeling seen, heard, and supported creates the foundation for healing.
The artwork itself can also become part of that relationship. It offers something to look at together, talk about, or sit with. For some, this creates enough space to approach difficult experiences without feeling overwhelmed. This reflects one aspect of the work Relationship Matters is involved with when it offers personal growth workshops, where healing happens through safe, attuned relationships. Art therapy brings creativity into that process, supporting connection both within ourselves and with others.
A Way to Honour Culture and Identity
Creativity has always been part of culture. Across the world, including Indigenous communities, people have used art, storytelling, movement, and music to share knowledge, express identity, and stay connected to community and land. When practised with care and respect, art therapy can support people in reconnecting with these integral parts of themselves, and exploring identity, belonging, and personal meaning in authentic ways.
For some, this might involve working with culturally meaningful symbols, stories, or materials. For others, it may simply be having the freedom to create in a way that feels true to who they are. Art therapy does not replace cultural practices, but can gently support and honour them within a therapeutic space.
Meeting a Growing Need
We are living in a time where many people feel overwhelmed. Stress, anxiety, burnout, and disconnection are increasingly common, and people are searching for ways to support their mental health that feel both accessible and meaningful.
Art therapy meets this need in a unique way. It can be used in individual and group sessions, workshops, and preventative wellness programs. By engaging both the mind and the body, it helps people move from simply thinking about their experiences to feeling and processing them, often leading to deeper and more lasting change.
It can also be a powerful complement to other forms of support. Art therapy is often integrated alongside occupational therapy, physiotherapy, trauma-focused therapies, talk-based counselling, speech and language therapy, and medical or psychiatric care, including medication when appropriate. In these contexts, creative expression can support regulation, communication, and integration, helping individuals engage more fully in their overall care and healing process.
Reconnecting in a Busy, Digital World
In a fast-paced and digital world, many people feel disconnected from their bodies and their surroundings. Art-making offers a way to slow down.
Working with materials like paint, clay, collage, or natural objects brings us back into our senses. We begin to notice texture, colour, movement, and rhythm. This can be grounding and calming, helping regulate the nervous system and restore curiosity. Over time, this supports a stronger sense of connection, both within ourselves and with the world around us.
Growing Recognition and Research
As art therapy becomes more visible, research continues to grow. Studies show that creative approaches can support emotional regulation, reduce stress, and help people process difficult experiences. This growing evidence is helping art therapy become more widely accepted in healthcare and education systems.
In many ways, research is beginning to reflect what many cultures have long known: that creating, expressing, and being in relationship with our inner and outer worlds supports wellbeing. Art therapy brings intention, guidance, and understanding to this natural process.
Looking Ahead
Art therapy is expanding because it speaks to something deeply human. It reminds us that healing is not only about thinking or talking, but also about feeling, creating, and connecting. With the support of trained therapists, individuals and groups can explore their inner world in ways that feel safe and manageable while building regulation, self-awareness, and stronger relationships.
As Relationship Matters continues to support trauma-sensitive and relationship-based practices around the world, art therapy offers a meaningful and natural complement to this work. It reflects the understanding that healing happens through experience and connection, not just information. In many ways, art therapy is not something new, it is a remembering of what has always been part of being human.
And perhaps that is why it is expanding now more than ever. We need to feel human.
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