Drawing Emotions with Fish

We begin by drawing and cutting out “emotion fish,” inspired by illustrations from Mies van Hout’s book Today I Am, which is often used in therapy for both children and adults. Next, we create a river space for the fish, with some near the surface and others in deeper waters, surfacing only in certain conditions. This metaphor helps illuminate the nature of emotions. Afterward, we make paper boats, writing down things we’d like to release, forgive, or forget on them, and then “send” these boats down an imaginary river, focusing on our inner emotional states.

Treasure Box

We create an imaginary or real treasure box to hold objects, memories, or notes that bring feelings of safety, joy, and confidence. In difficult times, this box becomes a source of comfort and emotional support, helping with anxiety, fear, and emotional burnout by focusing attention on one’s inner resources.

The Five Rhythms of Life

In the 1960s, dancer and director Gabrielle Roth introduced five rhythms as five essential body patterns in movement that naturally flow into each other:

1. Flow — slow, fluid, honey-like movements;
2. Staccato — distinct, sharp, slightly awkward, and broken movements;
3. Chaos — free, passionate, and unrestrained, with untamed movements;
4. Lyrical — light, airy, almost weightless movements, symbolizing a rebirth;
5. Stillness — inner silence, listening deeply to oneself.

The practice of “Five Rhythms” isn’t about precise movements or poses. Instead, it’s a spontaneous dance that emerges from within. Gabrielle Roth compares this experience to the intensity of sexual passion or the birth of a child, as it deeply engages the psyche and the body.

To try it, look up music for the “Five Rhythms” online or create a playlist of favorite tracks that evoke these energies. Immerse yourself in the music, and let your body move intuitively, following even the smallest impulse.

Simple Blue

For this technique, prepare a sheet of paper and cover it with blue or another color of ink. Drawing with an ink remover slowly reveals images. This unveiling process, with its focus on time and interaction with the material, encourages creative expression and emotional release.

Body Work

The core idea of body work is that the body holds emotional and psychological trauma, and physical work helps in acknowledging and releasing it. Techniques include:

• Breathing exercises – promote relaxation, reduce stress, and increase awareness.
• Movement and postures – certain movements and postures release blocked energy and emotions.
• Gentle massage and manual therapy – various massage techniques relieve tension, unblock physical and mental barriers, improve circulation, and promote well-being.
• Voice and sound work – sound practices (like toning or chanting) release suppressed emotions and re-energize the body.
• Focusing – a practice that involves directing attention to body sensations, helping process unresolved emotions.

Sensing the Body with Color and Shape

This technique is often done in pairs, with one person lying down while the other, under the therapist’s guidance, touches various body parts with the palm, prompting the participant to focus on sensations in these areas. Then, each participant outlines their body on a large sheet and colors it to reflect sensations in various regions. Different colors and brush textures symbolize various feelings, forming an “emotional body” that captures individual emotions and psychological states.

Once the artwork is complete, participants share their choices of colors, textures, and reflections on the process. The art therapist facilitates a discussion, guiding gentle interpretation of the images in a safe and non-intrusive manner. Through color symbolism, the discussion allows participants to explore deeper emotions, often more accessible than words could convey.

Grounding

Grounding helps reconnect with the present, especially during stress, anxiety, or trauma. Techniques include:

• Breathing – focusing on slow, deep breaths to reduce anxiety and regain bodily control.
• Physical grounding – pressing feet into the floor or visualizing roots connecting them to the earth.
• Mental grounding (5-4-3-2-1 technique) – naming five things you see, four things you hear, three things you feel, two things you smell, and one thing you taste.
• Tactile grounding – holding objects with distinct textures, like stones, to relieve psychological tension.
• Physical exercises – simple movements, such as walking or squeezing fists, shift focus to the body.