Expressive Arts Therapy: Our Core Methodology
Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) and Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive arts therapy is a form of psychotherapy that utilises various art modalities, including visual arts, music, dance/movement, drama, and creative writing. The process emphasises sensory sensitivity and the transitions between different art forms. In the safe and supportive environment created by the therapist, individuals engage in creative expression, allowing their artwork to become a tangible representation of their thoughts, feelings and memories. By guiding individuals in exploring these representations, the therapist helps them to uncover repressed emotions, gain a deeper understanding of themselves, and develop the resilience necessary to navigate life's challenges.
How Expressive Arts Therapy can particularly support Highly Sensitive People?
The key elements of Expressive Arts Therapy align with the core characteristics and needs of HSPs, providing them with a particularly suitable form of psychotherapy:
Exploring with High Sensitivity: Enhancing Self-Affirmation and Acceptance
Expressive Arts Therapy emphasises "low skill, high sensitivity." During the process, HSPs are encouraged to connect with their physical sensations and engage with materials at their own pace, fully experiencing and processing sensory input. This enables their high sensitivity to serve as a "guiding light," leading to a more profound understanding of themselves and the world around them, recognizing high sensitivity as a resource, and enhancing self-acceptance and appreciation.
Minimizing Sensory Overload, Connecting with the Present State
Expressive arts therapy focuses on experiencing the reality directly and creating space to explore alternative possibilities, which is especially beneficial for highly sensitive individuals. In this space, HSPs can distance themselves from daily stimulations and the opinions of others, focusing on their current state of being, allowing what is important to them to emerge without immediate analysis or evaluation. By observing the phenomena of their artwork with openness and patience, HSPs can gain insights and create clarity about themselves.
Let Imagination Take the Lead, Holding Space for Intense Emotional Sensitivity
Imagination and various art forms serve as a way for highly sensitive individuals to fine-tune their "channels," identifying their needs amidst diverse stimuli and information. A core feature of the Expressive Arts Therapy process is the transition from one art modality to another. Without the pressure to quickly process information, HSPs can allow their rich imagination to take the lead, understanding their creations through varied artistic mediums and gaining clear insights, as if filtering through layers of experience.
Moreover, the journey through different art forms provides a vessel for managing intense emotions, allowing profound feelings to gradually settle. HSPs can observe and experience their emotions in their creative expressions without being overwhelmed by the intensity of their feelings.
From "Nuisance" to Resources for Daily Life
HSPs deeply process sensory information, which allows them to readily observe connections and learn from experiences. However, their rich sensory world isn't always easily articulated, and these insights can be overwhelmed by the demands of a fast-paced life. When left unaddressed, these insights can lead to fatigue and confusion.
Expressive Arts Therapy leverages the rich imagination of HSPs to transform abstract and complex thoughts and feelings into tangible artworks that represent their experiences. This process allows them to connect with their creations at their own pace, embody their experience and drawing inspiration that can be applied to daily life. Moreover, because HSPs exhibit deep sensory processing and a stronger reward response when engaging with aesthetics, the benefits derived from artistic endeavors often resonate deeply, resulting in a more significant positive impact.