Today we’re chatting with Dr Ree Langham, a health and wellness expert who works with Impulse Therapy and Stop Together, about why she believes everyone should give art therapy a go.

Hi, Ree! If you could recommend One Good Thing everyone can do to improve their mental health, what would it be?

It’s got to be art therapy. I, myself, do it every day. It’s a fairly new approach to therapy and was first made popular in the 1970s. In short, it’s a type of therapy that encourages people to express themselves through creativity. It’s hugely empowering and a great way to support good mental health.

Why art therapy?

It’s not always easy to explain how we’re feeling. We might not have the words, or we might not even understand our emotions. Art therapy is great for this. It gives people an opportunity to express things in an alternative way to speaking. It’s an effective treatment for those suffering with past trauma, as well as OCD-related intrusive thoughts and behaviours. I’ve heard those suffering with mental health concerns describe it as a voice in a world that tends to quiet them, and I think this is really powerful. Everyone can benefit from it too and it’s easy to practice at home.

One Good Thing: why everyone should try art therapy