Using AI in Art Therapy

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

Expanding Expression When Traditional Art-Making Feels Difficult

Art therapy is rooted in creativity, self-expression, and emotional communication. However, some clients may find traditional art-making challenging. This can include people who have:

• limited fine motor movement• physical disability or fatigue• visual or perceptual processing differences• hand tremors or muscle weakness• trauma responses connected to certain art materials• distressing dreams or internal images that feel hard to express by hand

For these clients, AI-assisted image creation can offer a supportive and accessible way to express themselves.

The aim is not to produce polished images. The intention remains the same as in all art therapy:to explore feelings safely, understand inner experiences, and build meaning.

Why AI Can Be Helpful

AI-generated imagery allows clients to:

• externalise difficult internal images (such as nightmares or intrusive thoughts)• see inner experiences from a safe distance• work with imagination even if drawing or painting is not possible• shift from feeling overwhelmed to feeling curious and reflective• experience creative agency and control

This can be particularly valuable for clients who say:“I know what I see or feel inside, but I can’t put it on paper.”

AI becomes a supportive bridge between internal experience and external expression.

Who Might Benefit

AI-assisted art therapy can be helpful for:

• people with neurological or physical disabilities who find manual art-making difficult• clients experiencing night terrors, trauma imagery, or vivid dreams• autistic individuals who think visually but prefer structured processes• people who feel self-critical about their drawing abilities• those who communicate more easily through symbolism than words

Participation is always voluntary. If AI feels uncomfortable for a client, traditional materials remain available.

How It Works in Sessions

1. The therapist and client talk together about the feeling, image, or sensation the client wants to explore.

2. The client chooses descriptive words. The therapist can support if needed.

3. AI generates several visual options. The client selects what feels closest to their experience.

4. The client may then:• further refine the imagery• draw or paint on top of it• cut it into collage• use it to explore emotional meaning• talk about what it represents in a safe, contained way

In this way, the AI image becomes a starting point, not an end product.

Important Guidance for Safe Use

• The therapist remains emotionally attuned and grounding throughout.• The client decides what level of imagery feels safe to approach.• AI is not used to “prove,” analyse, or diagnose psychological content.• The focus is on the client’s felt experience, not interpretation of the image.• If the imagery becomes overwhelming, the therapist shifts to grounding techniques or another modality.

A Note on Ethics and Dignity

The use of AI must always respect:

• client autonomy• privacy and confidentiality• informed consent• cultural safety

AI does not replace the human relationship. It supports it.

The healing process comes from connection, witnessing, and meaning-making — not from the technology itself.

In Summary

AI can be a valuable adaptive art therapy tool, especially for clients who cannot or prefer not to create by hand. It opens new forms of expression while maintaining the core goals of art therapy: emotional understanding, self-awareness, empowerment, and connection.