What is Art Counseling?

Art counseling is a transformative practice that combines therapeutic techniques with artistic expression, allowing individuals to explore their emotions and experiences in a creative way. Art techniques are combined with mental health counseling to help students express their thoughts in a non-verbal way. It helps students build self-confidence, reduce anxiety, strengthen connections with peers and learn to express themselves positively.

We spoke with LaRhonda Britton-James, LMHC, CAP’s Clinical Creative Art Counselor, to get a sense of what art counseling is like, who it’s for, and what kinds of outcomes it can produce.

Can you please explain art counseling and what it does for your students?

The point of art counseling is for the students to come to the group and learn to express their emotions through art. It helps with emotional stabilization.

For my students, it’s about emotional regulation and being able to manage themselves at school, at home and when they’re with their friends. And that could be anger, sadness, grief, joy—all of the emotions. And having a voice, because they don’t sometimes know how to talk about what they want to say. When they gain the ability talk it out, they come up with their own solutions.

It helps process emotions, thoughts and the things that sometimes you can’t say out loud.

What kinds of techniques do you use in your classroom?

I find that freedom of expression is better, rather than me coming in with a schedule. I’ll go to a school and bring different types of art projects or art materials. Sometimes I’ll have a subject to work on, and sometimes I’ll have them free paint or ask them to tell me how they’re feeling through paint, or coloring, or some other sort of art activity. They’ll take those materials and create something amazing.

Sometimes we’ll talk about that emotion, or what’s happened in their day, or what’s causing stress or emotions, or the joys or things that we can celebrate.

We’ve also been working on taking deep breaths when we’re angry, rather than reacting. Stopping and thinking about, “Why am I upset?” versus just being upset.

Sometimes I’ll just sit with them and paint and we’ll have a conversation about whatever is on their minds.

What kinds of results have you personally witnessed with your students?

They come to school more, they don’t have referrals anymore. It really does help the students, even in their classrooms. It really is just teaching them how to regulate their emotions.

I just came from San Jose Elementary, and I have a set of twins who were in separate groups for art counseling. One of them was more reserved and quiet. She wanted to do it, but didn’t know how. She kept doubting herself. She’d say “Whenever I do art, people laugh at me.”

But toward the end of the year, she really started opening up! She would tell me what was happening, how she had wanted to fight so-and-so, but she was able to calm down. She didn’t come all the way out of her shell, but she was smiling today. She would normally come in like, “I don’t want to be here, it’s too many people.” She started trusting the process. Even though it was a small shift, I felt like it really improved her ability to communicate. She has these tools now—that’s a beautiful story to me.

I talked to her mom before I left. She started crying, saying “You did so much for my girls.” It’s just a small thing, learning how to take a deep breath. Or having someone say, “I’m here with you, I see you. I’m with you.” It just takes that, and a change can happen.

 

CAP Art Counseling Behavioral Outcomes (as of fall 2024)   GRASP Academy: 54% of middle and 48% of elementary students in Art Counseling improved their attendance compared to the previous schoolyear; students had a 88% and 92% daily attendance rate respectively, compared to the overall school attendance rate of 91% 75% of middle and 100% of elementary Art Counseling students who received a behavioral referral last year have reduced the number of referrals earned this school year   Alfred I. duPont Middle: 58% of students in the Art Counseling Program improved their attendance compared to the previous schoolyear; students in the program maintained a 92% daily attendance rate, on par with the district average of 92% and closely aligning with the overall school attendance rate of 93% 64% of students in the Art Counseling Program who received a behavioral referral last year have reduced the number of referrals this school year   San Jose Elementary: 58% of Art Counseling students improved their attendance compared to the previous schoolyear; students in the program had a 97% daily attendance rate, exceeding the school average of 93% 50% of Art Counseling students who received a behavioral referral last year have reduced the number of referrals this school year

 

Who is art counseling for? Is it just for young people like those you work with, or would you recommend it for others, too?

It works with kids, it works with adolescents, and it works with adults. But it depends on where that person is and what they’re going through.

Sometimes art will allow people to see beyond what’s in their head, put it on a paper or canvas, or put it into some slime! When people are having a difficult time, they can go out and grab some art supplies and do whatever they want. It relieves whatever stresses that they’re dealing with at the time.

If you’re going through something that’s chronic, ongoing, or if it’s hard for you to take those steps, reach out to someone.

What made you want to do this work?

I am a mental health therapist by trade. For me, the journey into becoming a teaching artist stemmed from my own struggles with self-expression during a challenging period in my life. 

Growing up, I often felt misunderstood, and art became my refuge—a place where I could articulate thoughts and feelings that words failed to convey. I was such a quiet kid. I was shy, withdrawn. And whenever I would do art, it just made me come alive. I was able to express what I was going through, how I was feeling. It just filled my heart with joy. That personal experience ignited a passion within me to empower others through art, helping them to find their voices and heal through creativity.

I really enjoy going into these schools and being able to be present with these students. It’s a job that doesn’t feel like a job. Sometimes I’ll just sit with them and paint and we’ll have a conversation about whatever is on their minds. Witnessing students unlock their potential and embrace their individuality is profoundly rewarding. It reinforces my belief that art is not just a form of expression but a vital tool for personal growth and connection.

Through teaching, I strive to create a safe space where others can experience the same liberation and joy that art brought me, making my role as a teaching artist deeply significant in my life and the lives of those I work with.

 

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LaRhonda Britton-James, LMHC, leads CAP’s sensory art and art counseling programs at multiple schools and community sites throughout the year. She also provides mentoring and support to other CAP teaching artists who may have moderate to little experience working with students with varying exceptionalities. LaRhonda earned a master’s degree in mental health counseling and works with children in the form of art and play to provide healing from various mental health symptoms. 

This article is part of a series of articles featuring CAP Teaching Artist Fellows, sharing monthly insights from their years of experience in arts education, personal stories that impacted their careers as artists and educators, and ideas for families to incorporate more creativity into their everyday lives.

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