Q&A
Drawn to Healing: Art Therapist Tracey Saia
In art therapy, a picture can be worth far more than 1,000 words.
By Christine Bockelman
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For licensed art therapist Tracey Saia, LPAT, MS, ATR-BC, ATCS, even a simple drawing of a stick figure could be a powerful therapeutic tool. “Art therapy isn’t about being a good artist,” says Saia, who is based in Morristown. “It’s about helping people find the words to talk about themselves and make sense of what has happened to them in their lives.” We sat down with Saia, who has been an art therapist for 25 years, to talk about who could benefit from art therapy (spoiler: everyone!), and to understand how art and therapy go hand in hand.
Tell us about your background and what led you to art therapy?
As a kid, I was always drawing. I found it helped keep me regulated and calm, and it felt good to create and have a form of expression. In college, I majored in psychology because I have always been interested in how people think and their perspectives on the world. It wasn’t until I joined the workforce that a colleague suggested I combine my interests and introduced me to art therapy.
Do you have to be a good artist to benefit from art therapy?
Absolutely not. Your skill or lack of skill has absolutely nothing to do with art therapy. Sometimes art therapy is as simple as me giving you something to do with your hands to reduce your anxiety and help you to loosen up. For example, if I’m working with a child who is being bullied at the lunch table, that kid might be hesitant to talk about what’s happening. So, I might pull out some art materials to help the child unwind a little bit. The art could be completely insignificant, and I’m just using it as a way to create comfort. Or I might ask the child to associate different colors with feelings, and maybe that will help them to express how they are feeling.
What might a session look like with adults?
For adults, we usually start a session with talking. If they reach an emotional block or can’t find the right words, we might shift to art. I might ask them to draw something related to whatever they’re having a hard time talking about. Let’s say they draw a stick figure in a box. I’ll ask them to tell me about the stick figure: Does it feel suffocated? Is there something heavy on top of it? And since we are talking about this abstract stick figure, not about the patient, it can help the words come a little bit easier.
What are some misconceptions about this field?
People often assume art therapy is arts and crafts or that I’m an art teacher. In reality, it’s a licensed therapeutic practice that requires specialized training. It isn’t just about drawing or creating pictures. I use lots of visual tools—timelines, pie charts, drawings, and more—to help people process and organize their emotions and thoughts. Even the choice of materials is important. Using the wrong material with someone can make them feel uncomfortable or frustrated, and be more harmful than helpful. Before starting art therapy with someone, I need to understand what they can handle. A germaphobe might not like to handle clay or someone might be sensitive to the scratching sound of a pencil. There is so much more to art therapy than people think.
Who benefits most from this approach?
Truly, everyone can benefit. Art therapy helps with emotional regulation, executive functioning, self-expression, and building insight. I’ve spent decades working with survivors of domestic violence and other trauma, but I also work with people who are just having a hard time explaining their feelings. For instance, if I’m working with an older adult who can’t seem to talk about their childhood, even asking them to do a simple doodle can be a catalyst to unlocking memories. Lots of people carefully choose every single word they say, and if I ask a question, they give a very controlled, carefully thought-out response. Sometimes creating a simple drawing can loosen you up a bit, and help you actually start to see your abstract thoughts. Art can help you see what you cannot say.
What is your goal when working with a client?
For me, art therapy is really about empowerment. I want all my clients to gain coping skills and the confidence to go out into the world and know that they’ve built strength and resiliency. I want people to use what they learn to move on, better themselves, and feel optimistic and positive about their lives. It can be hard in therapy of any kind, when you are always looking backward and talking about yucky stuff. I want everyone I work with to know that they are going to get to where they feel better about their lives.
Is there a connection between art and memory?
Yes! Everyone has very strong pathways between their creative side and their memory. Think about how you used to feel calmer just by doodling while talking on the phone. Or during the COVID-19 pandemic, when adult coloring books were so popular. Creating art influences your mood, and creating it requires a certain level of focus. Art therapy can even be used with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Much like a certain song or smell can bring you back to a certain time or place, creating a picture can encourage the brain of someone with memory issues to recall a memory or story.
Does creativity in general support mental health, even outside therapy?
Absolutely. There have been many studies that state creative activities can activate beneficial neural pathways, reduce stress, and improve mood. Art can help people feel more grounded. Creativity also helps so much with focus and mindfulness. If you are writing a poem or making a picture, it’s about the here and now and what you’re working to create. Creating art can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, and that’s part of what makes it a powerful therapy tool.
Tracey Saia, LPAT, MS, ATR-BC, ATCS, offers private and group art therapy sessions at 84 Maple Ave. in Morristown. For information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.traceyesaia.com.
For licensed art therapist Tracey Saia, LPAT, MS, ATR-BC, ATCS, even a simple drawing of a stick figure could be a powerful therapeutic tool. “Art therapy isn’t about being a good artist,” says Saia, who is based in Morristown. “It’s about helping people find the words to talk about themselves and make sense of what has happened to them in their lives.” We sat down with Saia, who has been an art therapist for 25 years, to talk about who could benefit from art therapy (spoiler: everyone!), and to understand how art and therapy go hand in hand.
Tell us about your background and what led you to art therapy?
As a kid, I was always drawing. I found it helped keep me regulated and calm, and it felt good to create and have a form of expression. In college, I majored in psychology because I have always been interested in how people think and their perspectives on the world. It wasn’t until I joined the workforce that a colleague suggested I combine my interests and introduced me to art therapy.
Do you have to be a good artist to benefit from art therapy?
Absolutely not. Your skill or lack of skill has absolutely nothing to do with art therapy. Sometimes art therapy is as simple as me giving you something to do with your hands to reduce your anxiety and help you to loosen up. For example, if I’m working with a child who is being bullied at the lunch table, that kid might be hesitant to talk about what’s happening. So, I might pull out some art materials to help the child unwind a little bit. The art could be completely insignificant, and I’m just using it as a way to create comfort. Or I might ask the child to associate different colors with feelings, and maybe that will help them to express how they are feeling.
What might a session look like with adults?
For adults, we usually start a session with talking. If they reach an emotional block or can’t find the right words, we might shift to art. I might ask them to draw something related to whatever they’re having a hard time talking about. Let’s say they draw a stick figure in a box. I’ll ask them to tell me about the stick figure: Does it feel suffocated? Is there something heavy on top of it? And since we are talking about this abstract stick figure, not about the patient, it can help the words come a little bit easier.
What are some misconceptions about this field?
People often assume art therapy is arts and crafts or that I’m an art teacher. In reality, it’s a licensed therapeutic practice that requires specialized training. It isn’t just about drawing or creating pictures. I use lots of visual tools—timelines, pie charts, drawings, and more—to help people process and organize their emotions and thoughts. Even the choice of materials is important. Using the wrong material with someone can make them feel uncomfortable or frustrated, and be more harmful than helpful. Before starting art therapy with someone, I need to understand what they can handle. A germaphobe might not like to handle clay or someone might be sensitive to the scratching sound of a pencil. There is so much more to art therapy than people think.
Who benefits most from this approach?
Truly, everyone can benefit. Art therapy helps with emotional regulation, executive functioning, self-expression, and building insight. I’ve spent decades working with survivors of domestic violence and other trauma, but I also work with people who are just having a hard time explaining their feelings. For instance, if I’m working with an older adult who can’t seem to talk about their childhood, even asking them to do a simple doodle can be a catalyst to unlocking memories. Lots of people carefully choose every single word they say, and if I ask a question, they give a very controlled, carefully thought-out response. Sometimes creating a simple drawing can loosen you up a bit, and help you actually start to see your abstract thoughts. Art can help you see what you cannot say.
What is your goal when working with a client?
For me, art therapy is really about empowerment. I want all my clients to gain coping skills and the confidence to go out into the world and know that they’ve built strength and resiliency. I want people to use what they learn to move on, better themselves, and feel optimistic and positive about their lives. It can be hard in therapy of any kind, when you are always looking backward and talking about yucky stuff. I want everyone I work with to know that they are going to get to where they feel better about their lives.
Is there a connection between art and memory?
Yes! Everyone has very strong pathways between their creative side and their memory. Think about how you used to feel calmer just by doodling while talking on the phone. Or during the COVID-19 pandemic, when adult coloring books were so popular. Creating art influences your mood, and creating it requires a certain level of focus. Art therapy can even be used with dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Much like a certain song or smell can bring you back to a certain time or place, creating a picture can encourage the brain of someone with memory issues to recall a memory or story.
Does creativity in general support mental health, even outside therapy?
Absolutely. There have been many studies that state creative activities can activate beneficial neural pathways, reduce stress, and improve mood. Art can help people feel more grounded. Creativity also helps so much with focus and mindfulness. If you are writing a poem or making a picture, it’s about the here and now and what you’re working to create. Creating art can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, and that’s part of what makes it a powerful therapy tool.
Tracey Saia, LPAT, MS, ATR-BC, ATCS, offers private and group art therapy sessions at 84 Maple Ave. in Morristown. For information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.traceyesaia.com.