Art Therapy in Minnesota and Georgia

Some experiences are hard to put into sentences. Grief can feel like a color before it feels like a thought. Anxiety can show up as a shape in the chest. Teens and children may not have the words at all, and adults who talk well for a living can find that talking only circles the same ground. Art therapy offers another route: making something, then talking about what the making brought up.

Radiant Recovery & Counseling lists art therapy among its specialties, and its children and teen counseling highlights art and expressive therapies as part of its clinical approaches. This page explains what art therapy is, what a session can look like, what to ask so you know exactly what you are getting, and where it fits. Treat it as general information, not as a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

What art therapy is, and what it is not

In art therapy, drawing, painting, collage, clay, or other creative materials are used as part of the therapeutic process. The point is not to produce something beautiful. It is to give feeling, memory, or conflict a form you can look at, talk about, and change.

You do not need artistic ability, experience, or confidence. Stick figures, scribbles, torn paper, and abstract color are all workable, and the conversation about what the making felt like is often where the most useful insight comes from.

Art therapy is not a test that reveals your personality or hidden secrets. A good clinician does not decode your drawing and tell you what it means. You are the expert on your own work. The therapist may ask what you notice, what you would title it, or what changes you would make, and the meaning comes from you.

Art therapist or counselor who uses art: ask which

Radiant lists two related specialties: art therapy, and "incorporates art therapy." These can mean different things in practice, and it is worth knowing which one you would be getting.

Art therapy is a distinct mental health profession with its own graduate training and credentials. Some counselors and therapists are not credentialed art therapists but incorporate creative methods into their sessions, for example by inviting a client to draw a feeling or build a collage while talking. Both can be valuable. They are different, though, and you are entitled to know which one you are choosing.

When you reach out, you can ask: Is the clinician a credentialed art therapist, or a counselor who incorporates art? What training do they have? What is their approach for my concern? Availability and training vary by clinician and location.

What a session might look like

Sessions usually begin with a conversation about how you have been and what you would like to explore. The clinician may then offer a prompt or invite you to choose your own: drawing a safe place, making a collage of the parts of yourself, using color to show the weight of a day, shaping clay to represent something you are carrying. You spend time making, with or without talk. Afterward, you look at what you made together and connect it with your life. You decide what to share, and you can say no to any prompt.

Some people prefer structure and bring specific goals, such as processing a loss or rehearsing a hard conversation. Others prefer open exploration. The process can be adjusted as you go.

Concerns art-based support is commonly used for

People turn to art-based approaches for many reasons, including:

• Grief and loss. Creating a memorial, a letter in images, or a representation of what a person meant to you can make space for feeling when words fall short.

• Anxiety, stress, and overwhelm. Making something can slow the mind and offer a way to externalize worries so they feel more manageable.

• Difficulty naming emotions. Colors, lines, and images can help you notice feelings before you have words for them.

• Identity and self-understanding. Collage and self-portraits can help you explore who you are, who you are becoming, and what you want to keep or release. See self-esteem support.

• Children and teens. Many young people find drawing and making easier than talking directly. See Radiant's children and teen counseling and its play therapy page for related approaches.

• Telling your story. Images can complement the words you use to describe your life, which pairs naturally with narrative therapy.

Using art with care after trauma

Creative work can be powerful, and that power is worth respecting. If an experience is painful or unprocessed, a sudden flood of imagery or feeling can be overwhelming. A thoughtful clinician paces the work, begins with safe and grounding imagery, and does not push you to depict or revisit what you are not ready to face. You can always stop, set an image aside, or choose how it is stored. If you have a history of trauma, tell your clinician early so the work can be paced to your readiness. Radiant's trauma therapy page describes related options.

What the research says, and what it does not

Research on art therapy is growing, and many people report that it helps them express and understand difficult feelings. The research varies in size and quality across different groups and concerns, and it is generally more limited than for approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy. For this reason, art-based work is often used alongside other approaches instead of replacing them, particularly for conditions where specific treatments have stronger evidence. A good clinician will be honest about that and will tell you what they recommend and why.

Is this different from counseling for artists?

Yes. Art therapy uses creative work as a therapeutic tool for anyone, whether or not they consider themselves creative. Counseling for artists and other creative professionals focuses on concerns that come with creative careers, such as creative blocks, income uncertainty, or identity tied to work. Some people want both, and some want only one. Mention what you are looking for when you reach out.

In person or by telehealth

Art-based sessions can work in person or over video. In person, the clinician may provide a range of materials. By telehealth, you can use paper, pencils, markers, or whatever you have at home, or digital drawing tools, and hold your work up to the camera to share it. The clinician can send ideas for simple supplies in advance. Radiant's Minneapolis clinic and Atlanta office host in-person sessions, and telehealth through the HIPAA-compliant TherapyIQ platform reaches clients across both states. See the Minnesota and Georgia telehealth pages. Think about where you can work privately, and ask about how your artwork will be kept or stored.

Preparing for a first session

There is nothing you need to bring or practice. If you would like to, think about a feeling, a person, or a situation you want to explore, and notice whether you tend to think in words, images, colors, or movement. If you are working in person with paint or clay, wear clothes you do not mind getting messy.

For telehealth, a plain pad of paper and a pen, pencil, or markers is plenty. Give yourself a few quiet minutes afterward, since making something can stir up more feeling than you expect, and think about how you would like your work to be stored or discussed. If the idea of being creative makes you anxious, tell your clinician. You can start with something as simple as drawing lines, shapes, or colors that match your mood.

How to ask about art therapy

In your booking request, say what you hope to explore and ask whether an art-based approach is available. The team can then suggest a clinician whose training and availability suit you. If creative work stirs up thoughts of ending your life, or you are in danger right now, reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by call or text, or call 911.