You Don’t Need to Be an Artist to Benefit from Art Therapy or Visual Journaling

When people hear “art therapy,” they often respond with:

“Oh, but I’m not an artist.”

“I can’t even draw a stick figure.”

“I wouldn’t know where to start.”

I hear this all the time — and I’m here to gently challenge it.

Art therapy and visual journaling aren’t about how skilled you are with a pencil or paintbrush. They’re about connection — with your emotions, your inner voice, and the parts of you that may not yet have words. These creative practices help give form to what’s held inside. Sometimes it’s grief. Sometimes it’s joy, anxiety, or even a numbness that’s hard to name.

In visual journaling sessions, I often remind people: “You’re not here to make beautiful art to hang on your wall. You’re here to express yourself and learn to listen to your own inner guidance.”

This isn’t about creating something “beautiful.” It’s about being with what’s real in the present moment. Through color, shape, texture, and movement, we find new ways to understand and express what we’re feeling.

Maybe it’s the repeated shapes that appear when you speak about anxiety. Maybe it’s the unexpected color that emerges when you begin to talk about hope.

The page becomes a space that meets you exactly where you are — bearing witness to your experience and offering insight without judgment.

Visual journaling is one of the most accessible forms of expressive arts therapy. You don’t need special tools — just a journal, a few art supplies, and a willingness to show up. Even a few minutes a week can deepen self-awareness, support emotional regulation, and bring clarity to what you’re carrying.

I hold space for individuals and groups navigating trauma, life transitions, anxiety, and identity exploration. Whether you’re processing something painful or seeking more alignment and meaning in your life, expressive arts therapy offers a grounding and empowering path forward.

So…. no — you don’t have to be an artist. You just have to be curious.

Come as you are.

Your inner world already knows how to speak.

Let’s give it a place to land.

You Don't Have to Be an Artist