​​​Expressive therapies involve moving into the inner self, letting go of linear time & thoughts, while opening space for what lives inside to express itself creatively. 

 

This practice includes expressive arts that are: visual (drawing, collage work, sculpture, or watercolors); movement (body-sculpting, authentic movement); sound-making (music, breathwork, or drumming for example); theatre (enactments, performance art, or film-making); or literary (journaling, poetry, or haiku). Sandtray, Dreamwork, & Focusing are three additional practices that I have a great deal of expertise in and find to be particularly powerful in my work. 

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The power of expressive arts & play therapies is amplified by the presence of a witness who seeks to both be in the process, fully present, while contributing in whatever way serves the unfolding process. Talk is involved but takes on a less primary role than in traditional therapy.

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Notably, expressive arts practices in therapy are now understood to be Brain-Wise practices! These therapeutic approaches access the core of our traumas while simultaneously opening space for creativity & for healing to emerge more organically.

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Another way of saying this is that: the parts of the brain that are most affected by trauma & disruption & require the most change for healing to occur are not principally the parts that involve language. These are the same parts of the brain that are most involved in creativity,  resonance with others, feeling whole & connected to oneself, others & the natural world. 

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Diving into the expressive arts literally provides us with access to an enormous landscape of resources for healing & creativity.  Talking and telling the story of what has emerged is like icing on the cake!​​

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