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Before we get to those, though, lets talk a bit more about art therapy.
Artur Debat / Getty Images
What is art therapy?
But art therapists will be quick to tell you that you neednt worry about that.
You dont need to be an artist, just open to having new experiences.
The following exercises are wonderful places to start.
Create a safe space.
Art therapy exercises extend beyond creation, so see to it to engage in self-reflection during and after.
Whats going on in your body as you make it?
Why do you associate safety with the colors, materials, and symbols you choose?
What does your safe space defend against?
Color a feeling wheel.
Even when were dealing with a lot ofemotions, its not always easy to recognize them specifically.
Pay attention to: Which feelings did you write down first?
Which feelings are you currently experiencing?
Did you color any two emotions the same color?
If you did, what does this mean to you?
Are there more positive emotions or negative ones on your feeling wheel?
writes Guzman inEssential Art Therapy Exercises.
Farber suggests choosing one and using it as a basis to create art.
The point is to make physical your emotional response to the words.
As you work, ask yourself, Why did you pick the particular prompt?
What do the words bring up for you?
How do you feel as you create the art?
What are you trying to capture?
Get into some craft-ivism.
As you choose your words carefully, think about what you stand for, says Farber.
What matters to you, and how can you express it right now?
Make it a declaration.
Use a nature walk as inspiration.
Incorporating nature into your art therapy practice is pretty much a two-for-one deal.
Farber suggests going for a walk (safely with amaskand keeping distanced from others!)
and collecting things you find that are interesting to you.
That could be leaves, sticks, pine cones, rocks, or other found objects.
What does each material feel like?
What drew you to it?
As you do, pay attention to what comes up and consider what youd name each photo.
