by Nicholas Smith
Supervised Counsellor / Career Coach

Art of Soul: Healing with Expressive Therapy Across Cultures

In a bustling city like Singapore, the pace of life can often outstrip our ability to process our emotions. Moreover, we live in a world where words can often fail to capture the depths of our feelings and experiences. An innovative mental well-being approach called expressive therapy is one way to better connect with our inner world, process complex emotions, and find new healing pathways.

Expressive therapy is a creative journey where words are optional, and each step of self-expression is more important than the destination.  

What is expressive therapy?

Expressive therapy offers us a chance to bring our inner thoughts to life through a paintbrush, a dance move, or a drumbeat. Expressive therapy, also known as Creative Arts Therapy, is a form of psychotherapy where art, music, dance, drama, or writing become your voice. Unlike more talk-focused therapies, expressive therapy encourages individuals to find an outlet through art, music, dance, drama, writing, or other creative pursuits.

Regardless of the form of creativity, the most critical aspect of expressive therapy is the act and process of creation. The focus isn't on trying to create a masterpiece, and that takes away the pressure to become the next Picasso or Shakespeare.

The healing power of creativity

At the core of expressive therapy lies the belief that creative expression can unlock the doors to our subconscious, helping us access and process the emotions, memories, and experiences we might struggle to say out loud.

Through art, creative expression can help us to lay out our inner conflicts visually or even kinetically with movement. Going beyond the spoken word allows us to see our problems from new angles and gain new perspectives. By transforming something abstract into a creative process, we can build a sense of empowerment, self-control, self-esteem, and confidence. What's more, by exploring how to take control through creativity, we can find new tools to dial down stress, reduce anxiety, and better manage our emotions.

The diversity of expressive therapies

Expressive therapy can include various creative modalities, each offering unique benefits. Read on below and see if one of these stands out to you as a potential avenue to express something you have left unspoken:

Art Therapy uses visual arts such as painting, drawing, sculpting, or even collage-making to explore emotions and experiences. It is often beneficial for individuals who struggle with the spoken word expressing their feelings or who have experienced trauma.

Music Therapy harnesses the power of sound, rhythm and melodies to heal. It could involve listening to music, playing music on an instrument, or even creating something new.

Dance or Movement Therapy utilises body movement to enhance physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It is well-suited for those who find stillness in motion or need to reconnect with their bodies. As a result, it can be particularly therapeutic and healing for individuals coping with body image issues or physical trauma.

Drama Therapy uses theatrical techniques to explore different areas of our lives, rewrite a narrative, and walk onto the stage of life in a new way. Drama therapy offers the chance to explore personal issues and growth through role-playing, improvisation, and storytelling.

Writing Therapy is one of the oldest forms of expressive therapy. It includes activities such as writing down thoughts throughout the day, journaling, or crafting poems to help untangle complex emotions or memorialise feelings. It can also involve working with existing literature, such as reading poetry out loud or creating something new and creative.

What to expect in a session of expressive therapy

Stepping into an expressive therapy session could take many forms, depending on the therapist's approach and the client's needs. Generally, it might start with a simple warm-up, such as some gentle music or a stretch, before shifting into a core expressive activity, such as sketching a drawing, engaging in a piece of movement, reading a piece of poetry, or selecting a poem that suits the feelings for the day.

The therapist's role is not to interpret the art or expressive creation; they're there to help you with the creative process and help you explore your interpretations and insights from what you create. The therapist will help you discover your own meanings, which you have explored and brought to life.

Who can benefit from expressive therapy?

Expressive therapy can be effective for people of all ages and backgrounds. It can help children dealing with the challenges of growing up and adjusting to new environments, as well as adults managing the stresses of life, career changes, and relationship issues. It can also benefit seniors seeking happiness, connection, or exploring new phases of life.

Expressive therapy is particularly relevant in a multicultural centre like Singapore because it can bridge language and cultural barriers to help individuals communicate their feelings when words alone might be lost in translation.  

By helping people find new ways to tell their stories and explain how they feel, expressive therapy has helped individuals and their journey through relationship issues through to post-traumatic stress disorder. Expressive therapy can be particularly powerful for individuals who find traditional therapy challenging, for example, children, adolescents, those with cognitive impairments or those who are neurodiverse.

Expressive therapy can be tailored to help individuals regardless their life stage:

• Expressive therapy provides a natural, non-threatening way for children and adolescents to communicate feelings and experiences. Children and teens can express themselves freely and work through, process, and metabolise complex emotions or traumatic experiences through play, art-making, and other creative activities.

• Adults can benefit from expressive therapy by tapping into their creativity to gain new insights, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. It can be particularly insightful for adults who feel stuck in their personal or professional lives or those dealing with significant life transitions.

• For older adults, expressive therapy can be a means of self-expression, cognitive stimulation, and social connection. It can be potent for those dealing with age-related issues such as loss of independence or end-of-life concerns.

If you're interested in exploring expressive therapy, there are a few steps you can take. Firstly, find a qualified expressive therapist in your area, then explore your goals and concerns with the therapist to determine if expressive therapy is right for you. Expressive therapy is all about expressing creativity, so it's good to start with an open mind and be willing to explore different creative modalities.

Being open-minded includes seizing an opportunity to experiment with mediums you've never tried --- and that could be anything from watercolour paint to putting together a meaningful song playlist. Throughout the experience, the goal is self-expression and exploration. So, when planning goals and concerns, remember that this is all about healing and growth instead of creating a masterpiece to impress your friends and family.

You are the final product that you are shaping in this journey.

Because expressive therapy can dovetail and complement many other modes of healing, ranging from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to narrative therapy and beyond, you can always ask your counsellor or therapist how they could incorporate expressive therapy into your treatment plan. Your therapist may be able to integrate expressive techniques into your sessions, adding a further holistic angle to your well-being journey.

We invite you to worry less about your artistic talents and take a step forward towards healing. Contact us at The Counselling Place if you're ready to get creative and explore further.

About the author

Nicholas Smith is a compassionate and experienced counselor who empowers individuals, couples, and families to navigate life's challenges. With a background in corporate leadership and expatriate experience, he understands the complexities of cultural transitions and personal growth.

Nicholas offers a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their strengths and resilience, and discover a path towards wellness and self-awareness.