Art Therapy Exercise for Healing After an Abusive Marriage

Christi Young
Nov 20
3 min read

“Reclaiming My God-Given Worth” Mandala

Purpose:

To help you gently externalize the messages you absorbed during the abusive relationship, and slowly reclaim the truth of your God-given value, dignity, and belovedness in Christ.

Tone:

Gentle. Trauma-informed. No pressure to “move on.”This is about honoring the wounds and rebuilding identity safely with God.

🌱 1. Create a Circle of Safety

Draw a large circle.Inside the border, write one of these grounding verses:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” — Psalm 34:18
“You are precious in my sight.” — Isaiah 43:4
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

This circle represents safety—a space your ex no longer has access to.

You can even whisper:“This is my space. He cannot enter here.”

⚡ 2. Divide the Circle Into Four Quadrants

Label or intuitively sense where each section belongs.

A. The Damage Done to My Sense of Worth

This part is hard—but important.Instead of writing harmful words or repeating what was said to you, express the impact symbolically, so you don’t re-trigger trauma.

Ideas:

Cracks
Torn lines
Heavy colors
Storm imagery
A small figure overshadowed
A wilted flower
A cage with the door open

The goal is: put the pain on paper instead of carrying it inside.

You can add:“Lord, You see this.”

B. What I Still Believe About Myself Deep Down

This reflects the part of you that survived, even when you were treated as though you didn’t matter.

Use imagery such as:

A small flame
A sprout
A single ray of light
A hand reaching upward
A heart protected by God’s hand

You may write one grounding truth:“My story didn’t end with him.”

C. Lies I Was Taught to Believe About My Value

This is where you gently separate your identity from the abusive relationship.

Instead of writing the lies explicitly, use symbols to represent them:

Chains
Shadows
Masks
Fog
A locked box
A shattered mirror

Then add a small cross or tear the edge of this quadrant slightly and tape it back down—symbolizing God mending what was broken.

You may write in tiny letters (optional):“These were his lies, not God’s truth.”

D. Who God Says I Am Now

This is the reclaiming quadrant.

Use warm, gentle, hopeful imagery:

A sunrise
A tree with deep roots
Flowing water
Open fields
A protected heart
Wings

Write one or two identity truths:

Beloved
Held
Redeemed
Safe
Free
God’s daughter
Restored

Scripture ideas:

“The Lord will restore the years the locusts have eaten.” — Joel 2:25
“Under His wings you will find refuge.” — Psalm 91:4
“He brought me out into a spacious place.” — Psalm 18:19

🌤️ 3. Create a Border of Protection

On the outside rim of the mandala, write powerful truth-statements that counter everything you endured:

“I am not what he said I am.”
“I am safe now.”
“God sees me clearly.”
“My value is non-negotiable.”
“His treatment of me does not define me.”
“I belong to God, not to pain.”

Let this become a shield of truth.

✍🏼 4. Guided Reflection (Write on the back or separate page)

Answer slowly and honestly:

Which quadrant felt the heaviest? Why?
What part of my worth was most impacted by the abusive marriage?
Where do I still feel God gently rebuilding me?
What identity truth felt the most comforting to draw?
What would I tell the version of myself who first entered that relationship?
What does Jesus say to me about my worth today?
Which lies still try to cling to me, and how does God answer them?
What part of me needs the most gentleness right now?