Why I Decided To Start Art Therapy As A 34-Year-Old Male Even Though I Had Already Completed 5 Years Of Traditional Therapy And Counselling

In 2016, I spoke to a counsellor for the first time.

Over the next 5 years, I was fortunate to receive a huge amount of professional support. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I had extensive childhood trauma, so there was a lot to work through.

And although talking therapies are great, I still felt there were some things I couldn't communicate with words.

Curiosity

I started wondering, what if the key to unlocking my deepest emotions wasn't through speaking, but through creating?

• How could I draw what I was feeling?
• What did my emotions look and feel like?
• Were they dark or bright, bold or dull, big or small?

My avenue of expression opened up when I found a new medium to communicate my emotions.

Growth-mindset

In 2023, I realised there was another world of communication to explore.

I started small, with a pencil and paper. Then, I tried watercolours and pastels. My favourite kind of art now is painting on canvas.

Exploring colours and textures through paint has awakened an inner creator I didn't know existed.

Breaking the mould

Why are most men taught to dismiss anything that doesn't fit the mould of conventional masculinity, including art therapy?

• Most boys are taught to be strong and confident.
• We then learn to hide our softer emotions out of fear of being judged as "weak."
• We end up pushing our emotions down and pretending that we don't feel hurt, embarrassed, or afraid.