What do art therapy and ancient shamanic traditions have in common? More than you might think. Both honor the language of symbols, the power of altered states, and the healing potential of creativity and presence. In this post, I explore the deep parallels between art therapy and shamanism—drawing from Jung, Fromm, Malchiodi, and Eliade—to reflect on how image, ritual, and the act of making can guide us through transformation.

In my final art therapy class at TATI, I created a banner with one word at its heart: Gratitude. Not just a reflection, but a felt sense that had carried me through the program. Over time, I’ve come to understand gratitude not only as a feeling, but as a powerful therapeutic tool—one that can elevate mood, ease anxiety, and reconnect us to what matters most. In this post, I share research, reflections, and a simple way to check in with your own relationship to gratitude.

Mindfulness practice can help us be better therapists and help clients reap most benefit from the therapy. Art therapy setting is...