At Art It Out, we use art as a vehicle for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). This presents a tangible and memorable way to teach children and teens how to recognize how our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are all interconnected and influence each other. CBT is very helpful in aiding individuals to learn to recognize and change any distorted or negative thinking patterns. Children may often illustrate thoughts, feelings, or events that are difficult to verbalize. This presents insight into the child’s inner world, which allows negative or harmful thoughts to be challenged.

Combining art and CBT improves the child’s overall engagement in therapy and presents the following opportunities:

-Creative activities provide a great way to break the ice! Children may not feel comfortable participating in talk therapy, but it’s much easier to express themselves in a drawing or hands-on activity.

-Understanding the relationship between your thoughts, emotions, and consequent behaviors is often easier once explained through art and play. Through writing and illustrations, children can process and practice relevant CBT tools and techniques.

-Art activities help improve children’s comfort level and understanding of facial expressions, moods, and emotions.