Healing isn’t about erasing pain — it’s about returning. When the body finds rhythm again after being stuck in defense, safety becomes movement, and presence becomes art. Across voices from The Awake Network’s Nervous System Regulation in Therapy summit, this reflection explores how creativity, co-regulation, and compassion gently rewire the nervous system — reminding us that life wants to move again.

Acrylic markers bridge the freedom of painting with the control of drawing — bright, tactile, and grounding. On small wooden blocks, each colour becomes a moment of mindfulness, offering a gentle balance between structure and flow. In art therapy and daily life alike, this simple tool invites calm through colour, rhythm, and touch — a reminder that creativity often begins in the hands.

Even though the NeuroSalon project was first introduced in 2022, its vision feels timeless—bringing art and neuroscience together to show how creativity keeps the brain alive, adaptable, and endlessly curious.

Somatic painting invites the body to speak through movement and color. Each mark traces a rhythm of sensation—tension, release, memory. It’s less about creating an image and more about listening to what the body knows before the mind explains. In this process, art becomes a bridge between feeling and understanding, grounding emotion in motion.

Dr. Jane Goodall passed away at 91, leaving behind a legacy of humility, courage, and compassion. Known for her groundbreaking research with chimpanzees, she also carried with her a small stuffed monkey named Mr. H — a gift from a blind magician, symbolising hope and resilience. To me, Mr. H reminds us that even the smallest objects can hold deep meaning. May her gentle spirit guide us to notice, care, and create ripples of change in our own quiet ways.

Art therapy is more than crafts — it is a clinically grounded mental health profession. We study psychology, human development, and psychotherapy to hold safe, transformative spaces where art becomes a bridge to healing. Research shows it reduces depression and anxiety, improves coping, and supports quality of life. Fellow art therapists — when was the last time you made art to explore your own inner world?

In art therapy, I often notice how we long for others to feel what we feel — as if sameness ensures safety. Yet true connection depends on difference. Intersubjectivity reminds us that two minds can meet and still remain distinct. Through art, we practise this balance — seeing, attuning, and staying present without merging, allowing both self and other to exist fully, side by side.

Fourteen families came together for a two-hour family art therapy workshop, turning tables of colours into safe spaces for play, laughter, and connection. From tracing hands to building family tree houses, each artwork became a home — and together, a village. It was a reminder that art can bridge families, spark harmony, and give permission to be tender, silly, and human — showing that in the shelter of each other, we truly live.

示意图片仅用于说明和隐私保护，并非来自实际活动 昨天，我有幸参与由 Beazley、MINDS 以及 The Red Pencil 共同举办的一场活动——一个充满艺术、欢笑与人际连结的下午。作为一名艺术治疗师，我受邀主持一场创意工作坊，参与者大约 32...

Sample artworks - for illustrative and privacy protection purposes only — not from the actual event. Yesterday, I had the privilege of...

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Art Storey at The Winstedt School Spring Fair 2024 - A Celebration of Creativity and Healing through Art Therapy with Stencil Art.

Discover the healing power of art therapy at Art Storey. Learn how creative expression can support emotional well-being in a trial session.

Self-care is important! Maternal mental health is crucial for the well-being of both mothers and their children, as it significantly...