A journey into creative therapy with Kimberly Hetherington
About
Creative expression can be a process of self-exploration and healing, giving us the toolkits we may find helpful to make sense of our experiences. Read on to find out about Kimberly Hetherington’s journey into creative therapy, her passion for supporting personal change as a Vancouver-based creative mindfulness therapist, and some of the prompts she recommends to get started with creative expression.
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Hi Kimberly, please tell us about your background and journey into art therapy.
I’d say my journey into art therapy started (unknowingly to me) as a little girl. Art has always been my refuge. It allowed me the space to breathe in a world that felt like I constantly needed to contort myself to fit into. It was the only place I felt like I could let my guard down and truly be myself.
However, I didn’t think art was a ‘sensible’ career path, so I went to university and got my bachelor’s degree in psychology. After graduating my plan was to have a gap year in another country before moving back to Canada to pursue my master’s. I moved to Beijing, China and I ended up staying there two and half years. I decided to keep travelling and moved to Sydney, Australia where I lived for almost 10 years. During my time in Sydney, I had many different jobs, mostly in SEO and marketing, but there was this constant ache in me for something more meaningful.
Art has always been my refuge. It allowed me the space to breathe in a world that felt like I constantly needed to contort myself to fit into.
Eventually, I came across a counselling course in Sydney and went for the info session. I went to the wrong one and sat in on an art therapy info session instead. Best mistake I ever made! I was mesmerised by my experience. It felt like everything I was looking for. Studying art therapy was a profoundly impactful experience. I started as a full-time art therapist during the pandemic and held countless workshops online offering support and connection for my community.
I recently moved back to my home, in Vancouver, Canada, with my husband and our two little girls. I’m starting my business again in Canada as an art therapist practitioner, weaving together meditation, therapy, and creativity.
For anyone new to art therapy, what is it and what are some of the ways it can be beneficial?
Art therapy encourages creative expression by allowing a person, or people, a safe space to express and explore their feelings. It weaves together all kinds of creative processes with psychotherapy to promote self-exploration and understanding. Essentially, art therapy allows our innermost thoughts and feelings to be expressed freely in a multitude of ways outside of verbal articulation.
Being able to take our experiences and release them through artistic expression can be healing and liberating. It allows us to make sense of our experiences and feel a sense of control over our lives.
What is the difference between creative expression and art therapy?
Creative expression is the foundation of art therapy. Any and all types of creativity are encouraged. Art Therapy recognises that human beings have used the arts as a form of healing since ancient times.
It’s important to note that anyone can take part in art therapy – it’s not only for artists. Any type of creative expression – whether that’s painting, drawing, clay, poetry, even stick figures – all of it is encouraged and can be worked with.
In a nutshell, what can someone expect from an art therapy session or workshop with you?
It depends whether it’s individual or in a group setting. Individual sessions are a lot more tailored to a person and their specific needs, while workshops tend to focus more on general themes (i.e., managing anxiety, grief & loss support, etc.)
A one-on-one session looks a lot like a traditional counselling appointment but with art and often meditation woven into it. For example, a session may look like:
Welcome & Check-in
At the start of the session, we will talk about what brought them to art therapy and what they hope to get out of it. Depending on the person and what they are after, we might list goals and create an action plan. Or, for those who are simply curious in art therapy and don’t have any specific goals then we go with the flow and work together intuitively.
Relaxation Technique & Creative Expression
After discussing the main reasons and/or curiosities in seeking art therapy, we might go into a meditation based on whatever was discussed to relax the body and get into a calmer and more creative headspace. For some people I might not do a meditation, either because they don’t want to or it’s not suitable. I find a simple type of relaxation technique leads nicely into a creative expression because it can help to lower the volume on certain thoughts, or it can heighten the volume. Both are great and enrich the experience. I will often let the client lead their creative expression but for some I may offer something more structured and directed by creating a prompt they can respond to. It depends a lot on the person and how it feels in the moment.
Discussion
After the client creates something, we discuss what came up and how it felt. We will examine what was created and look at it from different angels to (both literally and figuratively) to see if we can gain different perspectives. We use the art as a basis for discussion, understanding, and processing.
End
At the end of the session, we will review what was discussed and check in with how the client is feeling. We might consider what the take home message is for them, what they want to continue to work on, or let go. We will then discuss the next session.
Prompt cards for creative mindfulness
Inside VS outside
Best for: Individuals.
How it works: Consider something difficult you are facing right now. Take a few minutes to write down the parts of this that are in your control, and the parts that are out of your control.
Draw your inner critic
Best for: Individuals.
How it works: Our inner critic is our own worst enemy. It's always there, judging our every move. But the inner critic is just trying to protect us. Take a moment to close your eyes and bring all your attention to the critic within you. Allow them to have your full awareness. What might they look like? What would they sound like? Have fun with this and even give them a name!
Tree of life
Best for: Individuals.
How it works: Using this tree template and answering the following questions:
Ground – What are your values? What sustains you?
Roots – Where do you come from? What is your culture, religion?
Trunk of the tree – What are your skills and strengths?
Branches – What are your hopes and dreams?
Weather – What are the challenges and outside forces?
Leaves – Who are the significant people in your life?
Fruits/flowers – What are the gifts you have received in life?
Body awareness
Best for: Individuals.
How it works: Using this silhouette of a body, take a moment to check in with yourself. Feel your emotions. Where are they living in your body? Where is sadness felt? Where does loneliness live? Where do you hold anxiety?
Find Kimberly online
kimberlyhetherington.com
therapywithkimberly@gmail.com
@kimberly_hetherington
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