How to Do Art Therapy in St Petersburg, FL

Art therapy in St Petersburg FL can change your life. But even if we’re seeking out therapeutic artistry, it can be hard to find, and even harder to gauge the value of. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together some of the best options in the Tampa Bay area for doing art therapy on your own terms.

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” – Pablo Picasso

Pottery Classes at The Hive.  

Art therapy is about making the creative process lighthearted. Pottery classes at The Hive make pottery-making playful and fun. By partaking in pottery, you get to shape something with the gentleness of your bare hands, and that can be very powerful. In art therapy, we get to build things with our hands that make us better understand ourselves. You don’t have to be an expert, you just need to be willing to immerse yourself in the creative process. By taking the first step and choosing to learn a new discipline, you are opening yourself up to new experiences.

Candle Making at The Candle Pour. 

One of the easiest ways for anything to grab you is by engaging your senses in a novel way. Candle making fully engages your sense of smell to create an experience that can be both artistic and therapeutic. The process of mixing wax and essential oils is both creative and alchemical. At the end, you will have engaged your senses to create something meaningful, tangible, and entirely yours. 

Make a Collage Out of Seashells at Fort De Soto Beach.

Making art in the open air has been helping human beings cope with their feelings for as long as there have been human beings and open air. Collage is an artistic process that takes many pieces and rearranges them into one larger cohesive image. The art of collage finds itself at home in the realm of papercraft, music, and yes, even Fort De Soto Beach. Walk along the shore collecting shells that catch your eye, then start arranging them in the sand. Now, just by starting to make a piece of art, you’d be setting yourself up for success in a number of ways, but by doing it in this way, at this beach, you’re opening up a few unique opportunities to engage with all your major senses. Our minds and bodies are deeply connected, by engaging with your senses, you are acknowledging that connection on a physical level. 

• • Sight. Engaging your sense of sight when you’re making art is probably the most common way we engage our senses in art therapy, but it can still be a powerful sensory tool. Looking for shells, analyzing your composition, and admiring your piece when it’s done are all great ways to engage your sense of sight in the artistic process. 
  • Touch. Generally, we engage our sense of touch into the artistic process without even thinking about it when we use our hands. We can engage our sense of touch by feeling the textures of the shells, digging our toes in the sand, mindfully experiencing the sensation of the sand on our skin, and through using our hands to draw lines and dig holes in our collage.
  • Smell. This one can be easy to neglect, especially in allergy season when your nose is runny, which is why we’ve sent you to a new biome that’s full of salt and interesting smells. You can engage your sense of smell by breathing deeply and mindfully, but also by mindfully and dutifully sniffing the shells you’re picking up. You’d be surprised by some of the smells that wash up on Fort De Soto Beach. 
  • Hearing. By engaging your sense of hearing, you’re literally opening up two quick and easy paths straight to the center of your brain. You can engage your sense of hearing by listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, identifying the calls of birds, or listening to your favorite music as you put together your collage. 

• • Taste. I guess you could… lick the shells? Just kidding. Engage your sense of taste by packing some tasty food and beverages for your day at the beach. Having fun is no excuse to neglect yourself, especially when it comes to food and water. Pack things that are healthy, but also remember to bring stuff that excites you, like a cold sparkling water.  And don’t forget to drink plenty of water! This is one of the best ways to do Art Therapy in St Petersburg FL.

Do Watercolor Painting at Lassing Park.  

It can be tough to get started as an artist. Especially as beginners, when we turn our attention onto ourselves, our eye is far too critical and not nearly nurturing enough. One of the things that changed my life when I began my journey in both therapy and art is my set of watercolor paints. It’s easy to set up, all you need is paper, paint, and water. Best of all, you can make something that looks pretty with no prior experience in painting. So take a trip down to Lassing Park (the greatest place in St. Pete), set your supplies down, and give yourself permission to go on an artistic journey. 

“The art of making art is putting it together.” – Stephen Sondheim

Begin Art Therapy In St Petersburg FL

Integrative Counsel proudly offers virtual Art Therapy with Quinn. 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.