Within the helping field, creative arts therapy stands out as a transformative approach that leverages artistic expression to foster emotional healing and personal growth. At Philosophical and Cognitive Therapy (PACT), we believe in the profound impact of artistic expression on mental well-being, harnessing the therapeutic potential of creativity to explore emotions, overcome emotional challenges, and foster personal growth. Whether through visual arts, creative writing, or verbal expression, PACT offers a safe and supportive space for individuals to navigate their inner landscape, cultivate resilience, and embark on a path toward a more authentic and fulfilling existence.
Creative arts therapy is a unique and integrative approach to mental health treatment that may utilize various forms of artistic expression—such as visual arts, including painting, photography, or collage—to help individuals explore their emotions, resolve psychological conflicts, and enhance emotional well-being. Creative arts therapists are uniquely trained in verbal and creative therapeutic approaches, and art-making is not required to benefit from working with a creative arts therapist. Some clients may embrace the creation process during sessions, while others simply value the specialized understanding of creativity that a creative arts therapist holds and include art minimally or not at all in their sessions. This modality recognizes the inherent connection between creativity and emotional well-being, offering clients a safe and supportive environment to explore their inner world, process experiences, gain insights, and develop resilience. Creative arts therapy aims to promote self-awareness, and emotional resilience, making it a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth, whether engaging in the creative process or focusing on verbal communication during sessions.
At PACT, we offer a distinctive therapeutic approach combining creative arts therapy with philosophical counseling, providing our clients a rich and multifaceted experience. Our unique approach emphasizes the following points:
Creative arts therapy provides a non-verbal avenue for individuals to express themselves, offering a unique platform to explore thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Through various artistic modalities such as collage, drawing, and painting, clients can tap into their inner world and communicate in ways beyond words.
Incorporating philosophical counseling into the therapeutic process adds depth to the exploration of creative expression. Our virtual creative arts therapist guides clients in reflecting on the deeper meanings and significance of their artistic creations, helping them uncover underlying beliefs, values, and existential concerns.
Existential themes such as identity, purpose, and meaning are woven into the fabric of our sessions. Through the creative arts therapy process, clients have the opportunity to delve into existential questions, gaining clarity and insight into their lived experiences.
Insights gained from creative arts therapy are seamlessly integrated into a broader philosophical outlook, fostering personal growth and self-discovery. By bridging the realms of art and philosophy, our approach nurtures holistic well-being and empowers clients to live authentically and meaningfully.
Creative arts therapy fosters deep expression and exploration of the human experience. Below is a short list of some of the most common issues our clients have addressed through creative arts therapy:
Philosophical and Cognitive Therapy is licensed in New York and California, serving clients virtually in NYC, Brooklyn, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond, and in person at our San Diego office. Begin your journey towards greater self-awareness and well-being.
Creative arts therapy offers numerous potential benefits, including emotional expression, increased self-awareness, stress reduction, improved communication skills, emotional processing, improved self-compassion, and empowerment. Through engaging in creative processes, individuals can find alternative ways to express themselves, gain insights into their experiences, and develop resilience in facing life's challenges. Creative arts therapists are trained extensively to understand the nature of creativity and self expression, which serves the work even during verbal therapeutic dialogue.
At PACT, various artistic mediums and activities can be utilized to facilitate healing and self-expression. These may include visual arts such as drawing, painting, and sculpting, as well as creative writing, journaling, and poetry. The specific activities chosen often depend on the individual's preferences and therapeutic goals. By engaging in these creative processes, clients can explore emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment, fostering personal growth and emotional well-being.
No prior artistic skill or talent is required to participate in creative arts therapy. Creative arts therapy focuses on the process of creation rather than the end product, emphasizing self-expression and exploration over artistic proficiency. The therapist can guide the process, offering encouragement and facilitating reflection, allowing each individual to tap into their innate creativity and discover new insights about themselves. Whether you consider yourself artistic or not, creative arts therapy provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to engage in various forms of artistic expression, such as drawing, or writing, to explore emotions, thoughts, and experiences. In fact, engaging in art is not a requirement at all while working with a creative arts therapist. Art-making can be a part of your therapeutic journey to the degree you are inclined. Creative arts therapists are trained to uniquely understand creativity in a multitude of ways.
Creative arts therapy aims to provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment where you will have the opportunity to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences through various artistic modalities, as well as verbally. Your therapist will guide you through the creative process, offering prompts and exercises tailored to your unique needs and therapeutic goals. Whether it is painting, drawing, or other forms of expression, the focus will be on the journey of self-discovery and healing rather than on artistic skill or technique. Through creative activities and discussions with your therapist, you will have the chance to gain insights, process emotions, and develop personal resilience in a safe and caring space.
Emily Hughes is a Licensed and Board Certified Creative Arts Therapist with over a decade of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, low self-esteem, and life transitions. Blending creative arts therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness, Emily provides a personalized therapeutic experience tailored to each of her client’s needs.
We invite anyone interested in creative arts therapy to reach out for a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation. This allows us to determine if we are a good match based on your needs and our expertise and availability. Our New York licensed creative arts therapist offers virtual sessions to individuals in NYC, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and beyond.
The first session is an opportunity to meet your therapist face-to-face and engage in a comprehensive assessment, covering your personal history, goals, and expectations for therapy. You may explore with your therapist the degree you would like to include art-making in your therapeutic experience. This meeting helps both you and your therapist understand your unique experiences and develop a plan tailored to your needs. If, for any reason, either of you feels the match is not the right fit, we can provide personalized referrals based on the information you have shared to help you find a better match.
In the early sessions of therapy, we work with you to establish a clear focus and direction for our work. Every client’s journey is unique, so our approach is to meet you exactly where you are. These initial sessions are key for building rapport and trust, creating a foundation for open communication and collaboration. This time allows us to explore your needs, set meaningful goals, and ensure you feel supported as we begin this journey together.
Throughout the course of therapy, your therapist may integrate creative arts therapy with existential-humanistic and cognitive approaches to explore your core thoughts about yourself, others, and the world and cultivate different and more effective responses to emotional challenges. Through engaging in artistic expression and therapeutic dialog, our goal at PACT is to help nurture your personal growth, resilience, and self-discovery, all in accordance with your well-being.
At PACT, we offer a distinctive approach that integrates creative arts therapy with the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and existential-humanistic therapies. Our New York licensed creative arts therapist offers virtual sessions to clients in various NYC locations, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and beyond. By engaging in creative expression, we aim to help you explore your inner world, foster personal growth, and facilitate meaning orientation.
We are dedicated to serving as a guiding light for our clients, leading you past the obstacles that have obscured your path to self-realization. We support you in cultivating a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you, finding meaning in life, and developing resilience to navigate life's challenges with clarity and purpose.
