Art Therapy
Art TherapyWhen Words Aren’t Enough, Creativity Speaks
At Integration Arts Therapy, we believe healing is a creative process. Art Therapy provides a space for exploration, self-expression, and emotional processing when words alone don’t suffice. Through various artistic mediums—including visual arts, music, movement, and drama—clients can access deeper layers of insight, regulation, and healing.
What Is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy integrates traditional psychotherapy with expressive arts, using creative exercises to support emotional growth and self-discovery. The creative process itself can foster regulation, insight, and transformation, helping clients externalize emotions and make sense of their experiences. By reflecting on what they create, clients often uncover new perspectives and pathways toward healing.
Is Art Therapy Effective?
Rooted in psychotherapy, Art Therapy has been used for decades to help individuals process trauma, regulate emotions, and build resilience. Pioneered by Margaret Naumburg in the 1940s, Art Therapy is based on the understanding that symbolic expression can reveal unconscious thoughts and emotions.
Research supports the benefits of creative arts in therapy, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing stress, anxiety, and the impact of trauma. Art Therapy is particularly helpful for individuals with PTSD, neurodivergent individuals—including those on the Autism Spectrum—and children who may struggle with verbal communication. In New York, Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCATs) are specifically trained to use art as a therapeutic tool.
How Does Art Therapy Work?
Memories, emotions, and trauma often reside in parts of the brain beyond verbal language. By engaging in the creative process, clients can access these deeper areas, fostering new understandings of themselves. Art Therapy may include drawing, painting, sculpture, or mixed media, depending on each client’s needs and preferences.
What To Expect At Integration Arts Therapy
Our approach to Art Therapy is twofold:
- Regulation & Catharsis – Creative expression soothes the nervous system and promotes relaxation.
- Deeper Processing – Art can facilitate profound therapeutic work, especially when combined with evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and somatic approaches.
We work with children, teens, and adults, including individuals who have experienced trauma, are neurodivergent, or are seeking alternative forms of expression. Our team of Licensed Creative Arts Therapists brings extensive training and experience in both the creative and therapeutic process.
We also believe in a holistic approach to care. When appropriate, we collaborate with psychiatrists, primary care providers, and other professionals to ensure comprehensive support.
A Creative Path to Healing
Art Therapy is just one of the many modalities we offer. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a session with a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, we invite you to reach out.