Why Art Therapy for Trauma?
Trauma isn't just stored in our thoughts—it's held in our bodies, our senses, our emotions. That's why talking about trauma can sometimes feel impossible or even retraumatizing. Art therapy offers a different way in: through images, colors, textures, and creative expression.
When words fail, art speaks. Creating artwork allows you to externalize internal experiences, giving form to what feels formless and containment to what feels overwhelming. This process happens at your own pace, always within a safe therapeutic relationship.
A Trauma-Informed Approach
All sessions at Artfelt are trauma-informed, meaning we prioritize safety, choice, and your sense of control. You will never be pushed to disclose more than feels right, and we always work within your window of tolerance.
How Art Therapy Processes Trauma
- Non-verbal processing: Trauma memories are often stored as sensory fragments rather than coherent stories. Art accesses these right-brain memories directly.
- Externalization: Putting traumatic material outside yourself—onto paper—creates distance and makes it more manageable.
- Containment: Artwork provides a container for overwhelming experiences, allowing you to approach them safely.
- Integration: The creative process helps integrate fragmented trauma memories into a coherent narrative.
- Empowerment: Creating something gives you agency and control—the opposite of the helplessness trauma creates.
Types of Trauma Art Therapy Can Help
Childhood Trauma
Abuse, neglect, attachment wounds, family dysfunction
PTSD
Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, avoidance
Complex Trauma
Repeated traumatic experiences over time
Acute Trauma
Single traumatic events, accidents, sudden loss
What Sessions Look Like
Trauma-focused art therapy moves at your pace. Early sessions focus on building safety, developing coping skills, and establishing trust. We use grounding techniques and create "safe place" imagery before approaching any difficult material.
When you're ready, we may use techniques like creating "containers" for trauma memories, externalizing emotions through color and gesture, or gradually processing experiences through symbolic imagery. You're always in control of what we explore and when.