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Learn more about art therapy
Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses creative processes, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage, to support emotional expression, self-awareness, and psychological wellbeing. It is practised by trained therapists who draw on both art-making and psychotherapeutic principles.
Unlike art classes, art therapy is not about skill or aesthetic outcome. The focus is on what the creative process can reveal and shift: feelings that may be difficult to put into words, patterns in thinking or behaviour, and experiences held in the body rather than in conscious thought. Art therapy is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and regulated as a profession in a number of European countries, with practitioners typically holding postgraduate-level training.
In an art therapy session, a therapist provides materials and a structured or open invitation to make something. The client is not directed toward a particular result. What is created, and what comes up during the making, becomes material for reflection and dialogue.
Sessions may involve:
- Drawing or painting in response to a feeling or memory
- Working with clay or collage to externalise an internal experience
- Creating images that represent relationships, fears, or hopes
- Verbal reflection on what emerged during the creative process
Art therapy has a broad evidence base and is used across clinical and non-clinical settings. It is particularly well-suited to contexts where verbal communication is limited, difficult, or not the primary channel.
Children
Art therapy is widely used with children, for whom play and image-making are natural modes of expression. It can help children process difficult experiences, develop emotional vocabulary, and manage anxiety or behavioural difficulties in a way that structured talking therapy often cannot.
Adolescents
Teenagers often find direct emotional disclosure uncomfortable. Art therapy offers a less confrontational route into difficult topics, including identity, peer relationships, self-image, and low mood. It is used in schools, community settings, and clinical services.
Autism
Art therapy is used with autistic clients to support sensory regulation, social communication, and emotional expression. The non-verbal, structured nature of the approach can be better tolerated than purely verbal therapies, and creative work can provide a meaningful shared focus between client and therapist.
Intellectual disabilities
For people with intellectual disabilities, art therapy provides a therapeutic space that does not rely on verbal fluency. It supports emotional wellbeing, self-expression, and quality of life, and is used across inpatient, residential, and community settings.
Choosing an approach isn't something you have to do alone. IC's matching can pair you with a therapist whose approach suits your situation. Get matched
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Finding an art therapist with the right training and a compatible style can be difficult, particularly if you're looking for someone who works with a specific client group. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in art therapy, or browse all art therapy therapists in the directory.
