Other Leaders in the Field Answer the Question: Why Expressive Arts Therapy?
From “The Creative Connection” by Natalie Rogers (1993) Expressive arts therapy uses various arts- movement, drawing, painting, sculpting, music, writing, sound, and improvisation – in a supportive setting to facilitate growth and healing. It is a process of discovering ourselves through any art form that comes from an emotional depth. It is not creating a ‘pretty’ picture. It is not a dance ready for the stage. It is not a poem written and rewritten to perfection. We express inner feelings by creating outer forms. Expressive art refers to using the emotional, intuitive aspects of ourselves in various media. To use the arts expressively means going into our inner realms to discover feelings and to express them through visual art, movement, sound, writing or drama. We use the arts to let go, to express and to release. Clients report that the expressive arts have helped them to go beyond their problems to envisioning themselves taking action in the world constructively. Involving oneself