Art Therapy for Stress Relief

Why Art Therapy?

Art therapy isn’t about being “artistic”—it’s about giving your emotions a place to land without needing to explain them. It taps into the part of you that might be tired of overthinking, people-pleasing, or doing life solo. It helps shift from “holding it all together” to safely letting go.

Session 1: Safe Place Collage

Materials: Old magazines, glue, scissors, paper or journal

Purpose: To create a visual sanctuary—a place your mind and heart can return to when stressed.

Instructions:

1. Flip through magazines and tear out images that bring peace, joy, or comfort.

2. Arrange them on your paper in a way that feels calming.

3. Add words, scripture, or phrases that speak to your soul.

Reflection Questions:

• What does this safe place say about what I need right now?

• How can I give myself pieces of this in real life?

Session 2: Emotion Color Wheel

Materials: Markers or watercolor, paper

Purpose: To name, honor, and process emotions without needing to fix them.

Instructions:

1. Draw a large circle and divide it into sections.

2. Assign a color to each feeling (blue = sad, red = overwhelmed, yellow = hopeful, etc.).

3. Fill in the sections based on how much each emotion is present in your life today.

Reflection Questions:

• Which colors/emotions take up the most space?

• Is there one emotion I’m avoiding? Why?

• What color do I want to expand next week?

Session 3: Gentle Affirmations with Brush Strokes

Materials: Watercolors or acrylics, brush, paper

Purpose: To calm the nervous system and anchor in truth.

Instructions:

1. Paint slow, simple strokes across the page. Let your hand move without pressure.

2. As you paint, write affirming truths between strokes. Examples:

   • I am allowed to rest.

   • My higher power is with me in the waiting.

   • I don’t have to prove my worth.

Reflection Questions:

• Which affirmation felt hardest to write?

• Which one felt like a breath of fresh air?