Art therapy uses art in a therapeutic setting with a professionally trained and licensed art therapist.
This can look different depending on the needs of a person. For example, an exercise could be creating a sculpture of your anger by making a physical manifestation of the anger in your life. Art therapists are required to be trained at a master’s level in both visual arts and in counseling. Art therapists are credentialed as Registered Art Therapists (ATR).
Who uses art therapy?
Rainy Day Art Therapy works with anyone that finds talk therapy to be challenging or that feels more comfortable with expression through art making. This can be anyone! We have found that children, neurodiverse people, people with disabilities, artists, people with mood disorders, and people with symptoms from trauma can especially benefit from art therapy.
What does art therapy look like at Rainy Day Art Therapy?
When entering an art therapy session at Rainy Day Art Therapy, you will enter a calm and open studio space that offers a variety of art materials. You can expect our therapists to use and individualized approach to art to help you feel present, name issues that are coming up for you, and find solutions that work.
We approach art therapy and psychotherapy through a trauma informed, systemic lens. Our therapists work with you in the art therapy sessions by bringing their knowledge to your experience. During sessions our licensed art therapists will support and encourage you to do what’s needed for you.
Our staff has a range of experience working in community centers, hospitals, and schools. Rainy Day Art Therapy was established in 2020 and continues to offer art therapy virtually and in person. We have experience working with a wide variety of different populations.
How does art therapy help?
When you are feeling frustrated with trying to find words or overwhelmed with talking, art therapy can be a haven for expressing your emotions. The licensed art psychotherapists at Rainy Day Art Therapy can help you put your experiences into words that help you communicate in a safe way.
Art therapy offers insight as a grounding tool to better understand your experiences and give you choice in those experiences. Using art therapy to know what you are feeling helps build emotional endurance for outside the therapy sessions. Art therapy helps you build a routine of checking in with how you are feeling.
Art therapy can be helpful at any time and is especially helpful if:
You are pushing through your life while feeling overwhelmed or numb
You have learned ways to cover up or hide your emotions
You are worried or have anxiety about what is going on in the world
You have often witnessed something that is painful or hurts to think about
You feel like you do not have value or are worthless
Art therapy is authentic, nonjudgmental, and uses the creative process for better mental health, growth, and healing.
I am not good at art.
You do not need years of experience or credentials to make something inspiring, insightful, or that expresses an exact emotion. When you are making artwork, we will encourage you to work authentically. Our focus will be less on what you made and more about how and why you made the piece.
What if I don’t want to talk about something?
We will not push you to talk about something you do not want to talk about. There are times that we have the words for an experience, but do not want to say those words - it might open up too many feelings or thoughts that are not ready. This is where making art is helpful; you do not have to use words to process what you bring to the sessions. The art therapy sessions are your time for you.
What if I just want to do talk therapy?
Our therapists are trained as art therapists and psychotherapists. If making art is not helpful for you, we are trained in talk therapy techniques as well. This is a good question to bring to the 20 minutes no cost consultation with your therapist.
Does insurance cover art therapy?
Yes! We currently accept BCBS IL PPO, Cigna and offer a sliding scale.
Send us a message!
There is currently a waiting list for the next available sessions. If you are interested in joining the waiting list or have a questions, please fill the form below.