Creative Expression in Los Angeles: An Artistic Path to Healing and Recovery

Los Angeles is a living and breathing example that the scope of creative expression is limitless - whether it is the silver screen or the artist on the street. When you tap into your creativity to heal from substance use and mental health conditions, it opens up a unique doorway that not only uncovers your inner mind but also makes it exciting.

Creative expression is when you use an artistic medium to express your inner thoughts and emotions outwardly. Not only is it artistic, but it is also an evidence-based method toward healing and well-being.

Linda Whiteside, Clinical Supervisor at the NuView Treatment Center, says, “If you or a loved one is struggling with substance misuse or mental health conditions, will I be right if I say you do not feel heard or properly understood? In fact, many times you feel greatly misunderstood, even by those near to you? If yes, then creative expression is a safe way for you to explore and communicate your emotions, experiences, and memories that have either been buried or not entirely understood.”

Los Angeles is home to creativity in many ways. Here are some of the different types of creative expression you can look into to find healing and recovery:

• Writing: Words can feel safe and powerful when it comes to exploring your thoughts and emotions. Something like journaling or writing a poem is a good way for you to engage in writing as a mode of creative expression.
• Drawing and Painting: Drawing and painting can feel freer and engaging. You use the canvas to create something concrete or even abstract, which can become a pathway for you to express and process your thoughts and emotions to move forward.
• Performing Arts: Music and dance are powerful, performative, and transformative tools in your life. Whether you want to write new lyrics or create a small piece of music, you find that you can use your creativity to heal. Meanwhile, dance is a great way of connecting with your body and healing by getting your body and emotions to move together.
• Collage: Collages can be a creative yet fun way of expressing yourself. You bring the different images and words together to understand and process your thoughts and emotions. These can be anything, even something as simple as newspaper and magazine cuttings.
• Crafts and Do-It-Yourself Projects: You might have often seen them described (or even dismissed) as “hobbies,” but crafts and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects can be great ways of practicing mindfulness and connecting with others. They require an eye for detail, which allows you to be in the moment and build self-awareness.
• Digital Creativity: In the age of digitization, graphics, animation, and video creation can also be used as ways of engaging in creative expression.

Linda Whiteside informs, “At our Los Angeles facility, we do not only use creative expression in and of itself. We try to incorporate it into therapies like psychodynamic therapy or experiential therapy to tap into your inner mind. We also use it as an assessment tool to understand your state of mental health.”

Creative expression is an evidence-backed method of treating substance use and co-occurring mental health conditions for the following reasons:

• Healthy Coping Skill: Creative expression can become your outlet or coping strategy to release your emotions when things become overwhelming.
• Stress Reduction: Just a few minutes of creative expression can bring down your stress levels by reducing cortisol and uplifting your mood.
• Uplifts Mood and Boosts Energy: When you engage in something creative, it can boost your mood and energy. This, in turn, heightens your sense of well-being.
• Personal Growth: Your creative outlet is an introspective tool toward self-discovery; it allows you to find a sense of purpose and fulfillment, as you grow as a person.

Yes, evidence shows that creative expression can be very effective as a therapeutic technique.

Linda Whiteside says, “At NuView’s Los Angeles facility, we have observed that more than 65% of our clients report reduced stress and anxiety by engaging in creative expression activities. It also meaningfully improves symptoms of depression, PTSD, and, to a moderate extent, schizophrenia when used with other therapeutic modalities. Similarly, as creative expression is innovative and exciting, incorporating this into broader recovery options translates to lower dropout rates in real time.”

If you think the idea of creative expression resonates with you, but do not know where to begin, here are some ways for you to find your creative outlet:

• Pre-Existing Interests: Something you already do can be a hint as to what your creative outlet might be. The kind of music you like, the books you read, or any other art form that comes to your mind. Explore them to find your creative outlet.
• Childhood Interests: What you might have liked doing as a child can be a reflection of what your creative outlet is. It can be drawing, painting, and so on.
• Pass Time Interests: What you do to pass your time is a great way of finding your creative outlet. For instance, do you sing or dance, or do you garden? This is a big hint for where your creativity lies.
• Shopping Interests: An interesting one on this list, but what are the things you like to shop for? Plants, or digital devices, like cameras? These can give you a hint of what you like - like gardening or photography.
• Consider a Course or Workshop: If you have tried all the above and your creative outlet has still not become evident to you, then do not worry. You can try a course or a workshop to see what intrigues you.

If you are struggling with substance use or mental health conditions and want to try an artistic path to healing, then creative expression can be the right fit for you. Reach out to NuView today - we match you with licensed therapists in Los Angeles who can tailor this therapeutic experience to your needs and goals so that it is meaningful and empowering to you.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (323) 307-7997 to connect with our experts today!

1. Do I need any artistic talent to benefit from creative expression therapy?

No, creative expression focuses on your inner thoughts/emotions and healing, not artistic skill or performance.

2. Can creative expression help those who struggle to talk about their feelings?

Yes, creative expression offers a nonverbal way to communicate emotions that may be hard to put into words.

3. What can creative expression help with?

When provided by trained clinicians in a safe environment, creative expression can help with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, substance misuse, and, to a moderate extent, with schizophrenia as well.

4. How often is creative expression used in a treatment program?

Typically, it is integrated regularly alongside traditional therapies to reinforce emotional healing.

5. Can creative expression continue after treatment ends?

Yes. You can use it as a lifelong self-care tool for your ongoing recovery and mental well-being.