grief/loss — Blog — Katharine Houpt Art Therapy & Counseling

One of my favorite things about being an art therapist is that I never stop learning. While technically a requirement of maintaining licensure, through continuing education credits, learning is really so much more than that.

I learn from each person I meet, whether in individual therapy, a group, a community-building setting, supervision, or in my teaching practice. I learn by listening. I also learn by reading. It seems like each time I have a new client or have a meaningful conversation with a friend I am inspired to read or re-read another book, which then feeds back into my conversations and my art therapy practice. This is a photo I took today of all the books I am currently reading or re-reading. A mix of non-fiction and fiction, of comics and prose. A mix of subjects including cartooning, grief and loss, gender and sexuality, HIV/AIDS, neurodiversity, cancer, end-of-life, death, slavery, history, feminism, trauma, joy, and creativity. You know, life.

I will never stop learning. But perhaps I should impose a moratorium on buying books for a while...

The simplest way to put it is, art therapy is like talk therapy, plus artmaking.* Let's say you want to work on identifying problematic relationship patterns, processing grief/loss, or even coping with stress or fear due to the political climate! Have you ever felt that you can talk and talk about a problem, but nothing changes? Art therapy provides a way for you to take control of your story. You are the creator of meaning in your own life. Whether you think of yourself as an artist or not, adding a nonverbal form of expression to talking things through can increase your understanding of yourself, others, and your community.

I field the "What is art therapy?" question nearly every time I tell someone what I do. There is no shame in not knowing! Do you have questions about what art therapy looks like? Contact me, and I'll be happy to discuss them with you.

*I'm referring to individual art therapy/counseling in this context. Art therapy can also look like activism, community-building, group work, and more!