As the recent Inside Out 2 film depicts so beautifully, our internal worlds are vast and constantly changing; our internal worlds are evolving significantly so during the developmental years of childhood. With that being said, youth have a need for multiple outlets of expression and therapeutic modalities that engage different forms of learning—visual, auditory, kinesthetic, reading/writing. Talk therapy may feel limiting to a youth who is struggling to find the words for how they are feeling and what they are experiencing; that limitation can lead to frustration or even shame. Art and expressive therapies provide a creative avenue for expression for a child, allowing them different opportunities to explore their internal world beyond simply answering questions. Creative outlets like drawing, painting, writing, story-telling, theater role-playing, and more can become doors that open up space for a child to safely explore their internal world and experience emotional healing. 

Not only this, but creativity gives us each an opportunity to take what may hurt or feel broken and to make something beautiful with that—the very act of creating from our places of pain or confusion can invoke a sense of empowerment. It is our responsibility, as therapists, to see how dynamically beautiful each one of clients are and to work with each individual in a way that honors how their brain functions and how they desire to express—ensuring the client has autonomy, choice, and opportunities to explore their healing through creative outlets. 

July 19, 2024 - Bailey Serrano