Using Art Therapy Worksheets in Rehab
Creative Healing: Unlock Recovery with Art Therapy Worksheets at Purpose Healing
Art Therapy Prompts and Worksheets from Purpose Healing Center
Purpose Healing Center is a respected addiction, dual-diagnosis, and mental health treatment center with locations in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. We use art therapy alongside other treatments to help clients overcome addiction, trauma, and other concerns from a whole-person perspective.
You don’t have to be good at art to get the benefits of art therapy. Try to think of art therapy like you thought of art projects as a very young child–free yourself from expectations and let yourself create. Art therapy is limitless; you can use any medium you please, whether that is paint, clay, pencils, or abstract materials, like pressed flowers.
So, where do you start with art therapy? Keep reading to discover art therapy exercises you can use at home or with the help of a professional, the benefits of working with a professional art therapist, and how we use art therapy in our programs.
At-Home Art Therapy Prompts and Worksheets
As a mode of treatment for addiction and mental health, art therapy can only be conducted by a registered mental health professional. However, you can still find value in making art or using art therapy ideas on your own.
Here are some free printable worksheets and art therapy prompts you can use to unleash your creativity.
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Self Portraits – With a Twist
Self-portraits are a powerful art therapy exercise, and they can take different forms. Here are some ideas to try.
- A present-day portrait. The first option is to make a self-portrait that reflects what you look like right now, at your current age. You can use any medium you want (e.g., markers, pencils, paint, etc).
- A portrait of you as a child. Many adults paint or draw themselves in the present day, but if you feel that it would be more helpful for you, consider creating a self-portrait of yourself as a child.
- A spiritual self-portrait. Rather than reflect what you look like, make a self-portrait filled with colors, textures, shapes, and pictures that reflect you as a person internally. You can start with the basic outline of a face and fill it in as you please.
You can also make a portrait of your future self. While it may seem strange, drawing your future self can be a mode of self-exploration and an opportunity to reflect on how you want to see yourself.
Make a DIY Feelings Wheel
Feelings wheels provide a visual representation of different emotions, including both positive and negative feelings. Often, we instruct clients to use a feelings wheel in therapy so that they can better pinpoint the specific emotion they’re feeling.
On the inside of your DIY feelings wheel, start with basic emotions like happy, sad, or angry. Then, expand on each with more specific versions of those feelings. For example, outside of the word “happy,” you might write “proud,” “content,” “comfortable,” and so on.
Having language to describe how you feel beyond “bad,” “good,” “happy,” or “sad” matters because it can help you understand and express yourself better.
Collage Ideas and Prompts
A collage is a form of visual art where you use different materials (e.g., magazine and newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials to create something new. You can make a collage about:
- Your experience with addiction. What does it feel like? How can the words, colors, and pictures you use in your collage express that?
- Your vision for the future. Make a vision board-style collage depicting what you want in life through words and images.
- Positive affirmations. Cut words or letters out from magazines to make your favorite positive affirmations the center point of your collage.
Collages are a great art therapy exercise for when you are tired of mediums like pencils, pens, and paint but still want to express yourself.
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Adult Coloring Book Pages and Printouts
Coloring is a great way to relieve anxiety, de-stress, or distract yourself. Print out these free downloads and color them in, or find an adult coloring book that speaks to you and complete the pages as you please.
Create a Visual Representation of Emotions
This is a simple and classic art therapy exercise. If you feel something big–whether it’s grief, a trauma trigger, or a craving to drink or use drugs, sadness, anxiety, or something else–draw or paint an embodied version of that feeling to express yourself and let it out. In other words, create a visual representation of how you feel.
For example, anxiousness could look like bright, intensely colored lines chaotically tangled and twisted over each other. Happiness could include colors like yellow, white, or light blue. Everyone experiences their feelings differently. Like with other art therapy assignments, there’s no “wrong way” to portray your emotions in this exercise.
A Happy or Safe Space
Think of a scene that makes you feel happy, safe, and tranquil. Is it a sunny spot on the beach? The woods? A cozy room with blankets and windows that show the snow falling outdoors?
Print the following download or use a piece of paper or canvas you already have to bring it to life.
A Double-Sided Mask
Do you ever feel like you live a double life? Alternatively, do you feel misunderstood or like the version of you that people get “on the outside” is different from how you feel internally? For example, maybe you’re happy, angry, or self-assured on the outside, but inside, you’re depressed, nervous, uncertain, or feeling pressured, like there’s a facade you can’t keep up with any longer.
For this exercise, get an inexpensive, blank mask at a craft store like the one you see below.
Decorate the external side of the mask to depict how you feel others see you. The inner side of the mask is for you to depict how you really feel–this could refer to what you wish people could see, or what you try to hide. This is a powerful exercise for those who use substances to cope with unseen pain or for those who feel like there’s an invisible part of themselves or the way they experience life.
The Self-Love Tree
Making a self-love tree is a straightforward art therapy exercise that can be used to increase self-esteem. Start by drawing a tree trunk. Then, from the stems or inside bundles of leaves attached to the tree, write words that describe your positive attributes or what you like about yourself.
Need some ideas? Consider terms like passionate, considerate, well-intentioned, caring, a good listener, or kind. If you feel stuck, ask a trusted friend or loved one what words they’d use to describe you.
Thank You Cards for Loved Ones
Gratitude is linked to many mental and physical health benefits, and it can be an important part of addiction recovery. Make a homemade and heartfelt thank you card to express your gratitude for someone who has had a positive impact on your life.
Use this template if you need help getting started!
Benefits of Working With a Professional Art Therapist
While you can experience positive effects from making artwork or trying art therapy activities on your own, doing so cannot replace the experience of working with a professional art therapist.
Art therapists are licensed mental health providers with specialized training and certifications. Versed in recommending art therapy exercises that fit the needs of a specific client or group, they will be able to guide you and help you get the most out of art therapy projects.
According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy can be particularly valuable during times of grief, change, or trauma. Rehab is often a time of significant transformation, and while getting help for addiction is a tremendously positive thing, it is still an adjustment.
Art therapy can also help to alleviate symptoms of anxiety or depression, increase self-awareness, and provide comfort as you overcome trauma. Creative activities are an excellent mode of self-expression and emotional release. You can continue using art for relief long after a program for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment is over.
How is Art Therapy Used at Purpose Healing Center?
At Purpose Healing Center, clients engage in art therapy alongside other treatments, like behavioral and motivational therapies, psychoeducation, process groups, family therapy, body and mind wellness, and medication management.
You will get a customized treatment plan at Purpose Healing Center, catered to fit your unique needs. If you are currently using alcohol or other drugs, you may benefit from attending detox first (typically for about a week) before entering one of our treatment programs.
Call Purpose Healing Center for Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment Incorporating Art Therapy
At Purpose Healing Center, we employ only the best and most trustworthy addiction and mental health treatment professionals in Arizona. Art therapy is just part of our effective and personalized approach to treatment.
Please call Purpose Healing to learn more about how art therapy is incorporated into our programs. We can also help you start the intake process, verify your insurance benefits, or get answers to your questions about inpatient and outpatient treatment.
All calls are confidential, so please reach out for support options with us today.
FAQs About Using Art Therapy Worksheets in Rehab
Is art therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Art therapy is an effective and research-backed form of treatment.
Who is qualified to be an art therapist?
There are two types of art therapists you will come across. The first is an ATR (art therapist registered), and the second is called an ATR–BC (board–certified art therapist registered). Becoming an art therapist takes years of education and experience. Most art therapists have a Master’s degree, but some will have a higher-level degree, such as a PhD.
References
- https://feelingswheel.com/
- https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/health-benefits-gratitude
- https://arttherapy.org/what-is-art-therapy/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39417019/
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