Art therapy prompt for trauma healing (video)

Explore a gentle art therapy prompt designed to support trauma healing, emotional processing, and self-reflection. In this video, you'll create an "altar of suffering and joy" using therapeutic art to deepen self-awareness and reconnect with your creativity.

Art as therapy prompt for trauma healing
 

Written and filmed by Linda Lin, RCC RCAT

Sometimes we find ourselves visiting the altar of suffering more often than we visit the altar of joy and curiosity, when really, we get to choose which altar to walk toward.

Both altars are important to visit. The movement, weaving in and out of the altar of suffering and joy/curiosity, is what supports trauma healing.

In this video, we touch on:

✦ joyful art materials
✦ reflective questions when making art
✦ the art as therapy experience
✦ how to process with your artwork
✦ the importance of the 'milieu'
✦ trauma healing via creative expression
✦ the ETC: Expressive Therapies Continuum

This therapeutic art prompt may help you:
• process emotions
• practice self-compassion
• reconnect with your inner world
• hold grief and curiosity
• unblock creativity without needing to figure everything out
• heal perfectionism: making marks, releasing feelings in a safer way

So go grab your sketchbook, some found art materials, sit at a place of your choice and let's make some art for your wellness!

Important note: This would make an excellent creative prompt that don’t necessarily require you to draw/paint it. Feel free to visualize this through a meditation, build a metaphor or a sculpture, make a song or poem or dance…any creative way to bring this practice into your weeks ahead!

If you're curious about art as therapy for healing but aren't ready to begin 1:1 art therapy, Rooted in Ease is a self-paced, creative online course designed by an art therapist, Linda Lin 林诗云, and co-hosted with Leah's Fieldnotes 魏若然.

Through eight workshops, you'll explore art therapy–inspired prompts, somatic mindfulness practices, and reflective conversations to begin healing your relationship with money and ease money anxiety.

Hoping you make space to unleash that creative voice of yours into the world! ☆

Linda