The Moment of Being Valued Simply for Being

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

There is a deeply meaningful moment described in this story of art therapy work with a teenager. A moment where art becomes more than a picture on paper. It becomes recognition.

“This was a special moment, when he asked me, ‘Why do you like this painting so much?’ And I replied, ‘Why do you think I do?’ with a particular smile on my face. And he lowered his eyes a bit as he said it, and the words were almost a whisper but he did say it: ‘It’s because I did it, isn’t it?’ And that was a very special moment for me too. When I knew that I had passed onto him the possibility of unconditionally being valued as you are, for who you are, simply because you are.”

This is one of the quiet yet powerful gifts of art therapy.The artwork becomes a mirror in which a person can see themselves as worthy, creative, and unique — without needing to be perfect, impressive, or compared.

To be valued simply because you exist is something many people have rarely, if ever, experienced.And sometimes, art offers the doorway into that experience.