Today we’re chatting with Dr Ree Langham, a health and wellness expert who works with Impulse Therapy and Stop Together, about why she believes everyone should give art therapy a go. 

Hi, Ree! If you could recommend One Good Thing everyone can do to improve their mental health, what would it be?

It’s got to be art therapy. I, myself, do it every day. It’s a fairly new approach to therapy and was first made popular in the 1970s. In short, it’s a type of therapy that encourages people to express themselves through creativity. It’s hugely empowering and a great way to support good mental health.

Why art therapy?

It’s not always easy to explain how we’re feeling. We might not have the words, or we might not even understand our emotions. Art therapy is great for this. It gives people an opportunity to express things in an alternative way to speaking. It’s an effective treatment for those suffering with past trauma, as well as OCD-related intrusive thoughts and behaviours. I’ve heard those suffering with mental health concerns describe it as a voice in a world that tends to quiet them, and I think this is really powerful. Everyone can benefit from it too and it’s easy to practice at home. 

And how do we do it?

Art therapy ultimately works by giving individuals an opportunity to express themselves and then learn from their creativity to understand their thoughts and emotions. It’s also a great way to press pause and almost lose yourself in the moment. 

You typically begin by deciding on a medium of art – be it drawing, painting or sculpture. Your therapist will then ask a series of questions, guiding you through the self-expression process. It might be to draw something in a colour that depicts your mood today or maybe even draw something in a colour that depicts the biggest challenge you’ve faced this week. At the end of the session, your therapist will ask further questions about the way you feel about your work, what you were trying to convey and what you have learned. 

What benefits could we see from getting into art therapy?

One of the biggest benefits of art therapy is that it can be done by anyone and practically anywhere. It’s an effective tool for helping people to express themselves better, while addressing, understanding and resolving emotions and feelings. In many cases, art therapy helps people to identify the root cause of their pain and then they can work with a therapist to find solutions for them. 

Are there any potential pitfalls? How can we avoid them?

I think the biggest pitfall of art therapy is people thinking they must be artistic to do it. That just isn’t the case. Art therapy isn’t about creating an incredible piece of art. It’s about expressing yourself, understanding how you’re feeling and shutting off from the world while you focus on one thing. I’ve known people who have never even picked up a pencil or paintbrush before to experience incredible benefits from art therapy.

How do you personally do your One Good Thing?

If I’ve had a particularly busy day, and don’t want to spend my evening on my phone or in front of the TV, I grab a colouring book and find a quiet spot. This is one of the most basic art therapy techniques and is a great way to relax. It stops my mind from whirring and going into overdrive and requires me to focus on the colouring at hand. 

Another art therapy technique I like to try takes a full month. Basically, every day you draw one line in a colour that depicts your mood for that day. After a full month, you can see how your mood has changed. If you do notice any dips or highs, you can then look back to see if anything triggered it.

How has art therapy changed your life?

It really has just allowed me to slow down and switch off which I think is super important for everyone. It’s a fantastic method to do at home too and proves that we can all take control of our mental wellbeing and see visible results. Life can be busy and overwhelming but by unleashing our pent-up emotions and feelings, and enjoying some art, it’s a great way to relax and feel ready to seize the next day. 

Frame Of Mind is Stylist’s home for all things mental health and the mind. From expert advice on the small changes you can make to improve your wellbeing to first-person essays and features on topics ranging from autism to antidepressants, we’ll be exploring mental health in all its forms. You can check out the series home page to get started.

Images: Unsplash; Getty