Combining Creative Arts Therapy with Talk Therapy

Unlocking Healing Through Expression and Insight

For many individuals, words alone may not be enough to process complex emotional experiences. Trauma, anxiety, grief, and emotional dysregulation can live deep in the body—beyond what can be easily articulated. That’s where Creative Arts Therapy, when integrated with traditional talk therapy, offers a powerful, multidimensional path to healing.

At City Behavioral Health, we believe that art, movement, music, drama, and poetry can complement verbal processing by helping clients access emotions, deepen insight, and engage in healing on a somatic and symbolic level.

What Is Creative Arts Therapy?

Creative Arts Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that incorporates artistic expression as a clinical tool. Trained, licensed therapists use modalities such as:

Art Therapy (drawing, painting, collage)
Music Therapy
Drama Therapy (roleplay, improvisation)
Dance/Movement Therapy
Poetry or Writing Therapy

These approaches are not about producing “good” art—they’re about using creativity to explore feelings, increase self-awareness, and promote psychological well-being.

The American Art Therapy Association defines art therapy as the integration of psychotherapeutic techniques with the creative process to improve mental health. Source: https://www.arttherapy.org/upload/2017_DefinitionofProfession.pdf

How It Complements Talk Therapy

Rather than replacing talk therapy, creative arts therapy enhances it. When combined, the two modalities allow clients to engage with their experiences in both cognitive and non-verbal ways.

Benefits of Integration:

Bypasses Cognitive Defenses
Artistic expression can access unconscious material that may be difficult to verbalize or defend against.
Regulates the Nervous System
Creative activities can soothe physiological arousal and support trauma recovery through sensory engagement.
Promotes Symbolic Understanding
Art and metaphor help clients explore themes safely and indirectly, particularly when processing painful experiences.
Facilitates Rehearsal and Reauthoring
Drama and improvisation offer the chance to “rehearse” new roles or responses, helping clients embody desired change.
Encourages Insight Through Reflection
After creating, clients discuss their work—integrating insight gained through art back into verbal exploration.

Who Benefits from This Combined Approach?

Creative arts therapy is beneficial for a wide range of clients, especially those who:

Struggle to express themselves verbally
Have experienced trauma or chronic stress
Are processing grief or loss
Live with anxiety, depression, or emotion dysregulation
Want to explore identity, purpose, or life transitions

It’s especially effective with children, adolescents, and individuals with mild autism spectrum presentations, who may find creative modalities more accessible than traditional talk therapy.

Research and Evidence

Creative arts therapy is supported by growing evidence for its efficacy:

Art therapy has been shown to reduce depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms.
Drama therapy improves emotional expression and social functioning.
Dance/movement therapy supports emotion regulation and reduces dissociation.
Music therapy enhances mood and resilience, particularly in those facing chronic illness or trauma.

A 2021 review in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that creative arts therapies significantly improve mental health outcomes, particularly in areas of trauma and emotional processing. Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.664201/full

How We Use This at City Behavioral Health

City Behavioral Health offers Creative Arts Therapy as a standalone service or integrated into broader treatment plans. Clients may engage in:

One-on-one sessions with licensed creative arts therapists
Group therapy incorporating drama or visual arts
Multimodal programs blending DBT, CBT, and creative approaches
Therapy intensives with expressive elements

Our therapists work collaboratively to ensure that creative modalities support the goals of talk therapy—building coherence between mind, body, and behavior.

A Client-Centered, Expressive Path

You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from creative arts therapy. What matters is your willingness to engage and explore. For some, creative work helps when words fall short. For others, it unlocks emotional truth, strengthens the therapeutic alliance, and makes the healing journey more engaging and embodied.

Whether you’re navigating trauma, seeking deeper self-knowledge, or simply exploring new ways to connect, the combination of expressive arts and verbal therapy offers a unique and transformative experience.