Art Therapy-Inspired Practices Clients Can Try Between Sessions

By Huma Durrani.

Let’s begin with an important distinction: art-making on one’s own is not the same as art therapy.

Art therapy takes place within a therapeutic relationship. It is facilitated by a clinician who is clinically trained in psychotherapy and skilled in working with images, process, symbolism, affect regulation, and meaning-making. The presence of a trained therapist allows the art-making experience to move beyond emotional expression into reflection, integration, healing, and resolution. However, that does not mean that artmaking for insight and reflection can only be done within the therapy room. Many art therapists offer clients simple, supportive directives to use between sessions. These are not meant to replace therapy, analyze trauma, or “fix” anything. Rather, they serve as grounding, reflective, and regulating practices-ways to stay connected to oneself, notice internal states, and gently support the nervous system.

Below are three art therapy–informed practices that clients may find helpful between sessions, especially when feeling overwhelmed and dysregulated.

1. Regulate Your Breath Through Bilateral Drawing

Therapists often use this directive to support nervous system regulation, grounding, and present-moment awareness.

What you’ll need:

How to do it:

Purpose:

This practice is not about creating meaning or interpreting the drawing. Its purpose is regulation, not insight. Many people find that syncing movement with breath helps calm the body, settle racing thoughts, and restore a sense of internal balance.

2. How Full Is Your Plate?

When life feels overwhelming, the mind often loses clarity. This directive offers a gentle way to externalize stressors and reflect on priorities without judgment.

What you’ll need:

How to do it:

Pause and reflect:

This is a reflective practice, not a problem-solving exercise. Its value lies in seeing your internal load and giving yourself permission to focus on what matters most.

3. Draw Where You’re Holding Tension

This directive supports mind–body awareness and helps notice how stress or emotion may be held physically.

What you’ll need:

How to do it:

This practice is about awareness, not release. Any strong emotional material that emerges is best explored with a trained therapist present.

A Gentle Reminder

These practices are not therapy and are not intended to replace working with a clinically trained professional. They are best used as supportive companions to therapy, offering moments of grounding, reflection, and self-connection between sessions.