What is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Expressive arts is a holistic, intermodal therapeutic approach that places creativity at the heart of human experience. It is a deeply human and generative practice, rooted in the belief that every person is inherently creative and capable of bringing something new into being — regardless of artistic experience or training.

Rather than interpreting artistic expression through predetermined psychological theories, expressive arts therapy engages directly with the creative process as a way of understanding, exploring, and facilitating change. It trusts the client as the expert of their own experience, and invites curiosity and compassion about what may arrive through the process.

Poetry, sound, visual art, theatre, movement, clay, and nature-based practices are all pathways for exploration. By engaging the body and senses, creative practices open space for presence, connection, play, imagination, and resilience — offering ways of expressing and experiencing that words alone cannot fully capture.

Through the process, clients may begin to encounter challenges from new perspectives, discover inner resources, move with complex feelings, and re-weave a sense of meaning and coherence. What emerges does not need to be interpreted or made into something “right”, “complete”, or “beautiful.” The process itself can bear witness to encounter, discovery, healing, and becoming.

My Ethical Commitments

  • My practice is grounded in care, respect, consent, confidentiality, and a commitment to the dignity and wellbeing of everyone I work with.

  • I recognise the responsibility that comes with holding space for others. I work within the scope of my training and experience, seek supervision and continued learning, and remain attentive to the boundaries and limitations of my practice.

  • I value each person’s unique cultural, social, and lived experience. I aim to create spaces that are inclusive, collaborative, and sensitive to differences in identity, language, ability, culture, and life circumstances.

  • Participation is always voluntary. I aim to be transparent about the nature and scope of my work, and to establish clear agreements around confidentiality, boundaries, communication, and consent. I take particular care with the privacy of personal stories, creative processes, images, and artworks.

  • Expressive arts can open meaningful and sometimes unexpected experiences. I therefore approach creative processes with care, curiosity, and respect, without imposing interpretations or assuming what an image, movement, or expression means for another person.

  • I also recognise when something falls beyond my scope of practice and will seek appropriate supervision, consultation, or referral when needed.

  • I continue to reflect on my practice, deepen my learning, and consider how power, privilege, culture, and social conditions shape the spaces we share.

My ethical commitments are informed by professional standards and ethical frameworks in expressive arts and related fields, including the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA).

FAQs

  • Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) is a gentle practice that brings together different forms of creative expression — such as movement, visual art, sound, music, poetry, storytelling, and drama — as ways of exploring ourselves, processing difficult emotions or life experiences that may be challenging to put into words, and discovering new resources and possibilities within a supportive therapeutic relationship.

  • Not at all. There is no right or wrong way to create. What matters is your curiosity — exploring yourself, the process, and meeting what emerges, rather than creating something beautiful or technically skilled.

  • This work is for anyone seeking personal growth, emotional resilience, or support through a period of change. I work with both adults and young people aged 7+, including those navigating migration, transition, belonging, identity, disconnection, overwhelm, grief, trauma, or other life changes.

    I facilitate in English and Mandarin and have experience working with multilingual and culturally diverse groups. With thoughtful preparation and interpretation support when needed, expressive arts can offer accessible ways of connecting, communicating, and exploring experiences beyond spoken language.

  • Sessions are shaped around your needs and interests. We begin with a check-in, taking some time to understand what you’re bringing and what might feel supportive. We might then explore movement, sound, drawing, writing, objects, imagination, or simple practices that help us arrive in the present. You are always invited, never required, to take part in any creative invitation. We end with a shared reflection, gathering insights and resources from the session to carry into the days ahead and our next meeting. Learn more.

  • No. You decide what and how much you would like to share, and we can work through creative and embodied approaches without needing to tell or revisit your whole story. If something difficult emerges, you are not holding it alone — it can be met gently and held through the art, the space, and our companionship.

  • My work is grounded in Expressive Arts Therapy and informed by my MA training in Expressive Arts Therapy and certification as an Expressive Arts facilitator. I am currently establishing my therapy practice in Iceland and working towards professional registration with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA). My practice is supervised, and I work within the scope of my training and experience, with an ongoing commitment to professional development and ethical practice.

    Please note: At the moment, Iceland does not have a licensing or professional regulatory framework for art therapists, expressive arts therapists, or psychotherapists. I believe it is important to be transparent about this. In the absence of a specific regulatory body, I take particular care to maintain clear professional boundaries and work within my competence. If you have any concerns about the process or my professional conduct, I encourage you to bring them to me so we can address them together.

  • Expressive Arts Therapy does not replace medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other professional care, but can complement the support you are already receiving. If you are working with another professional, or taking medication or have health considerations that may be relevant to our work, you’re welcome to share what you feel comfortable sharing. With your consent, we can discuss how this work can sit alongside your existing support, including communication with other professionals when appropriate.

  • That’s completely okay. You don’t need to arrive with a clear goal. We can begin with curiosity and discover together what feels present, relevant, and meaningful, and what might invite us to explore more deeply. From there, a question or intention may gradually emerge to guide our work.

  • You’re welcome to get in touch for a short conversation before deciding. We can talk about what you’re looking for, answer your questions, and see whether working together feels like a good fit. Before we begin, we’ll make a written agreement that sets out what you can expect from our work together and helps create clarity and respectful boundaries for both of us. And if at any point you feel that the process is no longer serving you, you can always pause or step away.

  • Yes. Online sessions are possible. We can adapt creative practices to the online space and find ways of working that feel supportive and accessible for you.