What are art therapy techniques and which materials are used in a session? Read about methods from clay and collage to the sand tray, and how they are chosen.
"There were oil pastels on the table, a lump of clay, old magazines and a pair of scissors; I didn't know what to do." Many people attending a session that uses creative methods for the first time feel a similar bewilderment. These materials, so reminiscent of art class at school, are not there for a piece of homework to be marked, but so that feelings and thoughts can also be expressed outside of words. In this article we look at what is meant by art therapy techniques, why certain materials are preferred, the methods that are commonly used and their limits. Our aim is not to offer a practical manual; it is to help you, as someone who may encounter this kind of work or is simply curious, understand what you might find on the table and what it means.
Why Do Art Therapy Techniques Matter?
In art-based psychological work, the material and technique are not just tools; they are part of the process. The same feeling can take one form when drawn in pencil, another when it spreads out in watercolour, and a completely different one when it is kneaded in clay. This difference may also show what kind of relationship the person has with that feeling.
Margaret Naumburg, one of the pioneers of the field, designed art as a tool of dynamic psychotherapy in the USA in the 1940s by combining spontaneous drawing with free association. Edith Kramer, meanwhile, emphasised the value of the creative process itself rather than the interpretation of the finished work. Many of the techniques used today are shaped by these two views coming together in different proportions: sometimes what has been drawn is talked about, and sometimes what really matters is the experience of drawing.
Let us state an important distinction from the start: whatever the technique, the end product is not read like a test result. A picture is a door that opens a conversation; its meaning is discovered together with the person who made it.
Which Materials Are Used in a Session?
Materials can be thought of, roughly, along a spectrum according to the degree of control they offer the person. At one end are materials that are easy to control and have clear boundaries; at the other are fluid materials whose results are hard to predict.
Easy-to-control materials
- Pencils, coloured pencils, felt-tip pens: The person decides the line, and it can be erased or corrected. This can be a good starting point for someone who wants to feel safe or who is just beginning.
- Dry pastels and chalk: Colours can blend in soft transitions; yet control still lies largely with the person.
- Collage materials: Magazine cuttings, coloured paper, scraps of fabric. These offer people who find drawing difficult the chance to work with "ready-made images".
Fluid materials
- Watercolour and gouache: The paint spreads across the paper and takes unexpected shapes. Some people find this liberating; others find it anxiety-provoking.
- Finger paint: A playful material in direct contact with the body; it is used especially often in work with children.
Three-dimensional materials
- Clay and play dough: These allow kneading, squashing, shaping and starting again. Working with the hands may, for some people, help to express feelings that come before words.
- Recycled materials: Boxes, lids, string and pieces of wood can be used to build something or put things together.
- A sand tray and miniature figures: A "world" is created by placing small figures in the sand.
Materials are not chosen at random. For someone experiencing very intense feelings, a fluid material may be overwhelming; in that case it makes sense to start with more structured materials. Conversely, for someone with a strong need to control everything, a slightly freer material can open up a new area of experience.
The Most Commonly Used Art Therapy Techniques
Below we introduce some techniques often encountered in psychological work that uses creative methods. These are a general introduction, not instructions for practice.
Free drawing
The person is invited to draw whatever comes to mind, without being given a particular subject. The drawing is then discussed through the person's own associations. This technique is the closest to Naumburg's approach.
The scribble technique
The person makes a free scribble on the paper with their eyes closed or without thinking at all; then they look at the scribble and try to see a shape, a figure or a scene within it. It is also an easy starting point for adults who say "I can't draw", because there is no expectation at the outset of producing something "beautiful".
Emotion colours and the body map
An outline of a human figure is drawn, and the person is asked to show with colours where in their body they feel a particular emotion, such as anxiety or anger. This exercise can help people notice the bodily traces of feelings.
Collage
A board is created using images, words and colours cut out of magazines. Themes such as "my life right now", "where I want to be a year from now" or "the things that wear me out" can be used. Collage offers rich possibilities for expression without needing drawing skills.
Clay work
A figure, an object or simply a shape is made from clay. Sometimes the person takes apart what they have made and makes it again; this process can also be talked about. Working with the hands may have a calming effect for some people; but this does not apply to everyone.
The bridge drawing
The person is asked to draw a bridge between "where I am now" and "where I want to go". Details such as whether the bridge is sturdy or broken, who is standing on it and what flows beneath it can make it easier to talk about the person's thoughts on change.
Mask making
The outside of a mask can be worked on as "the face I show others" and the inside as "the side of me no one sees". This technique is used especially with adolescents and adults to talk about the difference between the inner and outer worlds.
The sand tray
Building on Margaret Lowenfeld's "World Technique", Jung's student Dora Kalff developed the approach known as "sandplay" in Switzerland in the late 1950s. A scene is created by placing miniature figures in a tray filled with sand. This method can be used with both children and adults; you can find more detail in our article on sand tray therapy.
The memory box
The inside and outside of a cardboard box are prepared with drawings, collage, writing or small objects. It can be used during grief to gather memories of someone who has died, or during transitions such as moving house or migration to honour what has been left behind. Letting the person decide for themselves when the box is opened and closed also gives a sense of control when working with difficult feelings.
Shared drawing
Family members, couples or group participants work together on the same sheet of paper. Here, rather than the finished picture, what can be talked about are the interactions during the work, such as who took up how much space and who made room for whom.
The material on the table is an invitation; the person chooses for themselves how far, in what way and when they accept it.
How Are Art Therapy Techniques Chosen?
Which technique is used varies according to the person and the stage of the process. Some of the factors taken into account in this choice are:
- Age and developmental level: With young children, sensory materials such as play dough, finger paint and the sand tray may be more suitable; with adolescents, techniques such as masks, collage or writing song lyrics.
- Emotional intensity: At times when very strong feelings are present, structured techniques that support a sense of control are preferred.
- The person's preference: Some people dislike drawing but love collage; some talk much more easily while working with clay. The person's interest and comfort matter.
- The subject being worked on: In grief work a memory box, and in work on self-perception a self-portrait or a mask, may connect more directly with the subject.
- The setting: While clay or a sand tray can be used in face-to-face sessions, online sessions may require working with simple materials the person has at home.
The relationship matters more than the technique
Whatever technique is chosen, a safe relationship lies at the heart of the process. If the person feels judged, the work will not deepen, however rich the materials. For this reason, in the first sessions the person's sense of ease is prioritised over the technique itself. We describe the general framework of the approach in our separate article what is art therapy.
How Effective Are Art Therapy Techniques?
This question needs an honest answer. Although research on art-based approaches contains promising findings, most studies have been carried out with small samples and are methodologically limited.
For example, a health technology assessment published in 2015, which examined art therapy for adults with non-psychotic mental health problems, reported that 10 of the 15 randomised controlled trials it reviewed found a significant positive change in symptoms compared with the control group, but that the quality of the studies was generally low. A review published in 2018, which examined 27 quantitative studies from 2000 to 2017, similarly found the results promising but the methods limited.
These findings mean the following: art-based techniques can be a useful aid in a process of psychological support; however, they should not be seen as a stand-alone treatment, and where necessary they should be considered alongside psychotherapy and medical treatment. Claims that a particular technique is "good for" a particular problem should also be approached with caution.
Ethical Principles Observed When Techniques Are Used
Creative methods can open up strong feelings. For this reason, certain ethical principles are an integral part of the process:
- The work belongs to the person. A drawing, collage or clay figure belongs to the person who made it. It is kept, photographed or shared only with explicit permission; with children, the child's own consent is sought as well as the parent's permission.
- Interpretations are not imposed. Interpretations such as "this tree is your mother" or "you used red, so you must be angry" are not made. Meaning is discovered together.
- Drawings are not used for diagnosis. The scientific validity of set interpretations based on drawing analysis is limited. We cover this subject in detail in our article on analysing children's drawings.
- A safe close. After work that has brought up difficult feelings, time is set aside for a closing in which the person can settle before returning to daily life.
- An activity done at home is not therapy. Colouring or making a collage on your own may do you good; but it is a self-care activity and does not replace therapy.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Creative activities are a relaxing pastime for many people. In the following situations, however, it is important to speak to a mental health professional:
- Unhappiness, anxiety or restlessness that has lasted for weeks
- Marked difficulty in recognising or expressing your feelings
- Being unable to recover after a loss, a trauma or a major change
- Long-lasting changes in your child's behaviour, sleep or adjustment at school
- Thoughts of harming yourself or others
If the last point applies, call 112 (emergency services) without waiting. The other signs do not amount to a diagnosis on their own; but they deserve to be assessed.
How Are Creative Techniques Used in Therapy?
In a process of psychological support, creative techniques can be used as tools that complement verbal work. For example, in child and play therapy with children, art materials, play dough and the sand tray are natural parts of the playroom. A child can show through a drawing or a sand scene what they cannot put into words. At this age, play is the child's most natural form of expression.
When working with adults, too, drawing a feeling, describing a relationship through collage or giving concrete form to a memory in clay can open a new path at points where conversation gets stuck. This work is carried out within an evidence-based framework such as cognitive behavioural therapy and with respect for the person's pace. Where needed, a psychiatric assessment also becomes part of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use art therapy techniques on my own at home?
You can try some activities, such as free drawing, collage or scribbling, at home as a creative pastime. This may help you express yourself and relax. However, activities done at home are not therapy; if difficult feelings come up, it is more appropriate to consult a professional.
Should I bring the materials used in the session?
In face-to-face sessions, materials are usually ready in the session room. In online sessions, simple materials that can easily be found at home, such as paper, pens, magazines and scissors, may be enough; what will be needed is discussed in advance.
Does the material I choose say something about me?
Your choice of material can start a conversation about your mood or needs that day. However, generalisations such as "people who choose clay are like this" are not valid. It is only possible to understand what your choice means by talking about it with you.
Are the drawings that are made kept?
The work you make belongs to you. Whether it is kept, photographed or taken home with you is decided with your consent. This work is treated as confidential.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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