Have you ever wondered or been curious about how creativity may enhance your counselling practice, to then hesitate, worrying that you're not “artistic” enough or haven't had any specialist training? If the answer is yes, you are not alone!
When I trained in person-centred creative arts, I discovered that this was a common misconception, and I learned that creativity in therapy is less about art skills and more about offering clients a safe, non-judgmental way to express themselves.
As a Person-centred counsellor, this way of working was the perfect marriage between person-centred theory, the work of Carl Rogers, and the process of creating art, where neither the process nor the finished piece is open for judgement or interpretation. It is a non-directive process, meaning that it is client-led. I felt like I had already been working this way for years, but it was reassuring to do a course to feel more grounded in my approach.
The process of person-centred creative art therapy involves the client creating a piece of art using any media of their choice. This could be as simple as offering paper and crayons, playdough or a bit of clay, it doesn’t need to be complicated. The most important aspect is that they are not bound or stifled by constraints or direction from the therapist and they are free to move at a pace which feels safe for them.
Person-centred creative arts is non-interpretative, which means that the counsellor or facilitator is not in a position of “knowing” or being the expert. Instead, the client explores and determines what their art means to them. It is very important not make assumptions about what is in the image, or project onto the art any meanings. For example, if a client drew what you perceive to be a cat, don't state or assume it is a cat as it could be a fox to the person who created it. I feel to have a therapist seek to understand the world, just as a client sees it, is perhaps the most powerful thing we could offer.
When working in this way, our role is not to analyse, but to hold up a mirror to the client, inviting them to explore their work and offering space to make meaning for themselves. This might be as simple as reflecting back and being curious about how it may relate to them. There’s also a gentle technique called 'bridging'. It simply means reflecting something the client has said, to help them connect more deeply with their image.
For example, if a client says, “I used blue” you might respond, “I wonder what blue means to you?”.
This keeps the focus on their own meaning rather than ours. Bridges don't have to be clever or complicated. The simplicity of bridging colours, shapes, numbers can be so incredibly powerful and hold a lot of meaning. Through this process there are different levels of consciousness. What is known to the client (conscious awareness), glimpses of insight without the need of facilitation, (edge of awareness), and deeper work that comes from facilitation from the counsellor.
I have found working creatively especially effective in my role as a school counsellor. Working with children and young people, I soon came to realise that sometimes it felt overwhelming for them to share their experiences, thoughts, and feelings using words alone. I have witnessed the power of watching a young person draw, create something out of clay or playdough, or engage in sand tray work, and how their shoulders drop, their breathing slows, and they enter a more mindful, almost meditate state.
Working creatively can also allow for some distance to be placed between the client and their experiences, offering a sense of safety when exploring topics that may feel particularly vulnerable. I have also found creative ways of working
Whilst exploring the image has great benefits such as increased awareness and offering insights, the actual process of creating in itself can sometimes be all that a person needs or chooses to do. In my work with children, I have found that just by putting their feelings onto paper in a picture, or creating something in a sand tray, they are able to process and make sense of difficulties they are experiencing. Younger children often naturally move between art, play, and storytelling, and so having different options available can be really powerful.
Something important to be mindful of is complimenting someone's artwork. I understand that urge to say "wow - that's really good" can be a tough one to dodge, it can imply judgement, after all even positive feedback is judgement and goes against the approach of not evaluating. A compliment, even with good intentions, can set up an expectation. A client may feel pressure to produce something perceived to be 'good' or visually pleasing, which can stifle creative freedom and self-expression.
Some of the ways working creatively in therapy can help:
Provides clients a way to tell their story without needing to find the right words.
Help to get big feelings out safely.
Bring new awareness by making what’s hidden inside more visible.
Allows clients to express things more deeply than they sometimes can with words alone.
It can help bring together different parts of Self and make sense of relationships.
It allows clients to try out or “play with” different roles and ways of being.
It encourages imagination and active involvement in the process.
It can help to calm the body and mind, supporting regulation and grounding.
Create a sense of distance from painful experiences, making them easier to explore and less intimidating.
It offers comfort and soothing, especially when words don’t feel enough.
It can support resilience by showing clients they have different ways of coping and expressing themselves.
For me, the most important thing is that creativity in therapy doesn’t require us, as counsellors, to be artists or experts in art. It simply asks us to be open, patient, and willing to let clients explore in their own way. You don’t need to do anything complicated, in fact you don't need to 'do' anything at all. Offering a client some coloured pencils, a bit of clay, or a sand tray can create space for them to express and explore differently. The real value lies in holding the space, trusting the process, and letting creativity do its gentle yet powerful work.
Here are some guidelines, that I believe are important to be mindful of when working in a Person-Centred creative way:
Let the client lead
Offer choices, not instructions. Invite the client to decide what to make, how, and at what pace.
Keep it non-judgmental
Avoid evaluating the art or interpreting it for them. What matters is their experience, not whether it “looks good” or “makes sense” to you.
Trust the process
Sometimes the act of creating is enough.
Be patient with silence and pauses
Creating can take time. Allow clients to sit with the process without rushing.
Offer simple materials
Creativity doesn’t require expensive or excessive tools. Paper, pens, crayons, playdough, clay, or a sand tray are all adequate for expression.
Respect boundaries
Some clients may choose not to engage fully or not want to talk about their creation.
On top of these guidelines, of course there are skills and methods to help to facilitate this way of working, however, I don't believe they're essential to have.
As with the person-centred approach, it's more about being than doing and I feel that if we embody the core conditions and provide a non interpretative space, with warmth curiosity for the client, allowing them to lead the way, I don't feel any damage can be done.
I would love to hear your thoughts around working in this way!
Thanks for reading,
Michelle