Art Therapy – The Door: Are You Ready to Take a Peek?
Discovering Healing and Self-Expression Through Creative Art Therapy
As a young child, I loved to draw, color, paint, and even decorate sidewalks with chalk. My imagination would drift into an entirely new world of make-believe, where I felt completely in control. With a brush, crayon, or pencil in my hand, bursts of color filled my mind, and all I had to do was let myself break free and create.
For children, art is more than an activity—it’s an adventure. Every creative moment takes them to a private sanctuary of serenity, peace, and clarity. But as we grow older, many of us lose that sense of wonder. Life, circumstances, and self-doubt create limitations. Far too often, we place this powerful tool on a shelf and forget the magic it once brought us.
Art is an extension of the self. The ability to transfer emotions, thoughts, and experiences onto paper or canvas is extraordinary—and you do not need to be a gifted artist to do it. All you need is the willingness to let your mind wander and draw what appears in your mind’s eye. You may think, “I can’t draw—there isn’t an artistic bone in my body,” but that simply isn’t true. We all have the ability to express ourselves creatively. Whether simple or elaborate, it is all art—and it is all expression.
There is a profound connection between art and therapy. Sometimes, when pain silences our voice, creativity becomes the bridge. For example, imagine feeling angry, sad, or traumatized—stuck in a silent world where the words refuse to come out. If someone hands you a piece of paper and a few crayons—black, blue, white, yellow—and asks you to draw how you feel in that moment, your emotions will immediately gravitate toward the colors that match your inner state. You may scribble slowly or aggressively. You may write words and then cross them out over and over. And in that movement—something releases.
This is one way art and therapy connect. After several attempts, that release may lead to the next step: the ability to verbalize what you were feeling when you created the image.
The Door: A Powerful Exercise for Unspoken Trauma
One of the most meaningful techniques I’ve used, especially with young girls who carry deep trauma, is called The Door. Yes—a simple paper door.
We begin by folding a sheet of paper into three sections, creating two flaps that open inward. The exercise represents the difference between what the world sees on the outside and what is truly happening behind closed doors.
The girls are asked to draw their deepest inner feelings on the inside of the door. They are given a variety of tools—crayons, colored pencils, charcoal, paint—and invited to express the world that has been silent for far too long. At first, I see heavy thinking, furrowed brows, and hesitation. But slowly, there is a moment of transition. As colors begin splashing across the inside panels, I witness release—real, powerful release.
Then comes the second part: closing the doors and drawing the outside. Suddenly the energy shifts. Creativity flows freely. Some girls draw bright colors and flowers. Others create signs or simple words. A few draw ropes and chains across the door with bold warnings like “DO NOT ENTER.”
This project becomes a safe and powerful outlet for emotions that cannot yet be spoken. Some of the young women were courageous enough to share what was happening behind their doors. Others held it close, still protecting their truth. Both responses were valid. Both were steps forward.
Because in that moment—they reclaimed control.
Reclaiming Your Life Through Art
When someone has been traumatized, control is one of the first things taken from them. This exercise gives it back. It validates their experience, acknowledges their pain, and helps them begin the healing process.
Healing comes in steps, and art therapy is a meaningful way to connect with inner feelings and thoughts without needing words. The verbal expression may come later, but until then, creativity provides a path toward balance, peace, and emotional release.
If free drawing feels intimidating, begin with a coloring book. Focus your mind on the image and allow your emotions to guide the colors you choose. You can also start with coloring words or simple shapes—anything that helps open the door to your inner world.
Whatever approach you choose, allow art expression to become part of your life again. Let your inner child come out to play—you may be amazed at what that child still has to teach you.
