The inner critic impacts us all. From time to time, that familiar self-critical voice chimes in and makes life more difficult than it needs to be. Left unchecked, the inner critic can deal devastating blows to your self-confidence. Art therapy can help you face your inner critic, and return your mind into harmony with itself. If you know how, you can turn your inner critic from an unproductive disruption into your star employee. 

“In the inner courtroom of my mind, mine is the only judgment that counts.” – Nathaniel Brandon, The Six Pillars of Self Esteem

Draw A Picture Of Your Inner Critic

When we’re learning to recognize our inner critic, it can be helpful to disconnect the intrusive thoughts from ourselves and imagine those words coming out of a source that makes sense to you. The first step to integrating our shadow is recognizing it as such. Grab your nearest art supplies, and get to work on representing your inner critic. Who is the model (or models) for your inner critic? How old are they? What sort of clothes do they wear? How are they similar to you? How are they different? Do they have any traits that would make you think twice about their advice, and if not, why not? 

Journal About The Inner Critic 

Your journal can be a great tool in your efforts identifying and questioning your inner critic. To get you started journaling, try this: Conceive of a situation where your inner critic would reprimand you. Write out a dialogue in your journal between yourself and your inner critic where you question the criticisms that your inner critic is making. This exercise is useful because it lets us practice speaking to our inner critic in a way that we can analyze and revise. Through journaling, our imagination can help us come to logical terms with the chaotic and often illogical circumstances of our own mind. 

Befriend Your Inner Critic 

The dirty little secret that many never realize is that you can teach your inner critic to be nicer. As my therapist often reminds me, the only person we can force to change is ourselves. Fortunately, despite all the disconnection we might feel from our inner critic, they are still a part of us, and we can learn how to guide them. Break out your collaging supplies and make a vision board of your ideal relationship with your inner critic. Fill it up with the types of words and advice you’d actually like to hear from your inner critic. Paste in pictures of things your inner critic would or should be proud of. By visualizing this healthier interaction with your inner critic, you might just realize how to make it a reality. 

Talk To An Art Therapist! 

Quinn is our team’s art therapist, and can help you make sense of the feelings that you can’t put into words with art. “What excites me about psychotherapy and the arts is the joy I get from connecting with people. I love that art has a beautiful and profound way of helping someone gain a new perspective, a sense of confidence, and a general feeling of having added something to this world. I also think the arts allow someone to explore their soul/spirituality.”

Quinn uses virtual art therapy to treat individuals with OCD and Anxiety, as well as those undergoing a major life transition or adjustment and are  experiencing grief. Click here to schedule your virtual art therapy session!

Sunny Ebsary is an educator, multi-modal artist, and writer specializing in the intersection of myth and mental health. Sunny’s writing walks the line between poetic and logical, giving readers a chance to interface with the mind and imagination. Sunny’s been putting pen to paper since he was a child, writing everything from albums, novels, and plays, to essays, interactive games, and of course, many articles! While studying both psychology and writing, he realized his real passion in life was helping others unlock their creative spark. Whether he’s leading a D&D game, directing a production, or diving deep into the brain, you can be sure Sunny will be ushering you toward finding meaning in your life.