“Art is a way of recognizing oneself” ~ Louise Bourgeois
This blog post weaves in material from a paper that I wrote about mental health recovery and art therapy. The topic of the paper is that mental health recovery principles align naturally with art therapy and that people with lived experience of mental illness can benefit from art therapy for their recovery. Also, the relationship between the therapist is so crucial for the therapeutic process.
During the pandemic, I worked at a volunteer counselling agency helping people sign up for counselling and find the resources they needed for their mental health. It was clear that many people were struggling with anxiety and depression, as well as other mental illnesses. At the start of this blog journey, I shared some statistics with you about the prevalence of mental illness in Canada, but I’d like togo over them again. According to the Canadian Association of Mental Health (CAMH) website, one in five Canadians have a mental illness (2025). Mental illness and substance use disorders are the leading causes of disability in Canada and young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group (CAMH, 2025). Sadly, the stigma of mental illness is still strong, preventing people from seeking the help they need which leaves them struggling alone (CAMH, 2025).
When clients asked what they were hoping to gain from counselling most wanted to explore struggles in their daily lives, explore past challenges, and learn coping tools for their mental health. The Covid pandemic brought one thing into clarity: the prevalence of mental health struggles globally and the need for community services (like affordable counselling) that includes a biopsychosocial, recovery-orientated approach. This realization also hit close to home. As a person with lived experience of mental illness, I faced many new life challenges during the pandemic: isolation, the loss of both my dogs, increased work stress, serious complications from medication side effects, and a parent in crisis that I needed to support. I needed more effective tools to prevent a bipolar episode.
One of my main strategies for support and healing during the past four years has been professional therapy. I have used a combination of art making, somatic and EMDR trauma therapy to learn self-regulation, heal trauma, cope with stress, and make life decisions. This was all done within the context of a safe, empathetic therapeutic relationship. It is also true that if you offer yourself safety, and self-compassion, you can work on your own recovery and creativity can be an invaluable tool that you can use.
The historical belief about mental illness is that having a serious mental illness meant that a person had little chance of recovery and wouldn’t participate in meaningful life activities. Yet statistics from a Canadian study in 2019 show a much different story:
“A person experiencing ongoing symptoms of a mental health problem or illness and/or substance use can still live a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life. The pursuit of that journey is at the heart of “recovery,” a concept whose principles include hope, dignity, self-determination, and responsibility” (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2025).
Some basic principles of recovery include:
Community ~ having supportive people in your life
Self-empowerment and self-direction ~ defining what recovery means to you
Hope ~ knowing that there is always hope for change
A holistic model ~ mental health wellness looks at the whole person and includes holitic approaches in healing
Strengths-based – knowing what your strengths are and using them to help your recovery
Respect ~ having self-respect and showing respect for others
Person-centered ~ knowing your recovery is determined by your inidivdual goals and needs
Non-linear ~ understanding that growth and wellness doesn’t go in a straight line…episodes happen, and they aren’t personal failures
Peer support ~ knowing that those with lived experience of mental illness can support those who are also on their recovery journey
These principles of recovery overlap with a therapist who practices from an strength-based, and client-centered approach. Aspects of fostering a strong therapeutic relationship and safe environment that promotes empowerment, include the ability of the therapist to support elements like self-determination, positive self-esteem, sense of self and place in the world, social support, and access to resources (Shebib, 2022).
In an article, “Art Therapy: A Complementary Treatment for Mental Disorders,” researchers conducted a literature review of 413 studies (primarily with painting and drawing as therapeutic arts) and found, “…that art therapy has been gradually and successfully used for patients with mental disorders with positive outcomes.” (Hu, J. et al., 2021, p. 1). On the treatment of depression and anxiety, the study states that, “In recent years, many studies have shown that art therapy plays a significant role in alleviating depression symptoms and anxiety” (Hu, J. et al., 2021, p.3).
In the book, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform us, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross state that:”At a neurochemical level, the act of drawing has been shown to release serotonin and endorphins and foster a more generous and open frame of mind. Specific studies of the neural effects of visual art production and mood have shown that drawing, by changing brain-wave activity and increasing blood flow to the frontal regions of the brain, has a positive effect on our psychological resilience” (2023, p. 63).
It is clear that therapeutic art is associated with improving mental health. The research points to the use of art therapy in the treatment of mental illness and how principles of recovery align with the approach of a therapist who excels in a person-centered, empathetic, and strengths-based orientation. I am heavily influenced by Carl Rogers and his “core conditions:” empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness (Shebib, 2022). Neuroscience backs up the idea that empathy changes the brain (Shebib, 2022). I also resonate with the quote, “…wise counsellors make informed choices based on individual situations and client needs” (Shebib, 2022, p. 395), speaking to a client-centered approach.
What hopeful research for helping the recovery of mental illness through use of art therapy and therapeutic arts. As a person with lived experience, I know the value of my art making and of working with a counsellor in facilitating my own mental health recovery, which includes developing inner and outer resources, and cultivating resilience.
“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity.” ~Rachel Naomi Remen
Okay, are you ready to dive into making some art?🎨
Therapeutic Arts Activity
Create an art piece that represents how your recovery overlaps with the therapeutic arts. Explore what recovery means to you and how using art helps you in your recovery.
Instructions
Think about what recovery means to you. Think of colours, lines, and designs that represent the intersection of therapeutic arts and recovery. My art piece reflects the qualities of art therapist and art therapy, but you could explore anything that resonates with you around art, healing and therapy.
Materials Needed
- Mixed media paper
- Black pen or pencil
- Felt Pens
Once you’ve completed this activity, here are some questions as guidelines for your personal explorations:
1. What principles of recovery resonate with you?
2. How do you see creativity as helping you with recovery?
3. How did it feel making this art piece?
4. Did you learn something new about yourself doing this art activity?
This image really encapsulates my feelings about the relationship with an art therapist, and some key ideas beneficial to creating safe space and improving mental health.
In the bottom image on the left, I am talking about how we heal from the inside out. While on one hand, creating goals and moving forward in our lives is part of healing, the deeper work and the foundation is built on looking at how we feel inside, which includes thoughts, emotions, dreams, and creative inspirations.
Mental health recovery has to do with appreciating, celebrating and honouring diversity in all its forms. There is not just one definition of mental health recovery.
One thing that neuroscience is seeing about mental health is that the brain can change and grow throughout life. This neuroplasticity is exciting news for the mental health field.
Finally, self-care -whatever that means to you – is integral for recovery from mental illness. So far, this blog has journeyed through many aspects of self-care that are important considerations for healing. We each must chose which practices are the most beneficial for us.
❤️❤️❤️ With care and kindness, Meegan
In the spirit of creating a community of reflection and art making, your comments are welcome. If you choose to leave a comment, it is important to know I respect your privacy. Your information will not be given, lent, rented, or sold to anyone. However, when making a comment on the site, your IP address and browser user will be collected. Please see full Privacy details on my Privacy Policy Page Privacy Policy. If you are having a mental health emergency, please take care of yourself, and call 911 or take yourself to emergency at your closest hospital.
Sources:
Canadian Association of Mental Health. (2025) Mental illness and addiction: Facts and statistics. Mental Illness and Addiction: Facts and Statistics | CAMH.
Hu J., Zheng J., Hu L., Yu H., and Xu J. (2021) Art therapy: A complementary treatment for mental disorders. Frontiers in Psychology. 12:686005. Doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.686005
Magsamen, S. and Ross, I. (2023) Your brain on art: How art transforms us. Random House: New York
Mental Health Commission of Canada. (2025) Recovery. Recovery – Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Rastogi, M. and Kempf, J. K. (2022). Art therapy for psychological disorders and mental health. (M. Rastogi, R. P. Feldwisch, M. Pate, and J. Scarce, Ed.). Foundations of Art Therapy. (pp. 335-336). Academic Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Shebib, B. (2022). Choices: Interviewing and Counselling Skills for Canadians. Pearson Canada Inc., North York, Ontario.
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