Unleashing the Inner Landscape: The Power of Creative Arts Therapy in Aotearoa

Creative Arts Therapy is a dynamic and holistic approach to healing that draws on the power of the arts—such as visual arts, music, movement, drama, and creative writing—to support clients in exploring emotions, developing insight, and fostering personal growth. In the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, this modality is uniquely positioned to resonate with the diverse cultural fabric and rich artistic traditions of the land. What makes creative arts therapy especially compelling is its ability to go beyond language, making it accessible and impactful for people across all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

One of the most unique aspects of creative arts therapy is its emphasis on process over product. Unlike traditional talk therapy, where verbal communication is central, creative arts therapy invites clients to engage with creative processes as a way of accessing and expressing internal experiences that may be difficult to articulate. This can be particularly valuable for individuals who have experienced trauma, neurodivergence, or developmental challenges, where verbal expression may feel inaccessible or insufficient.

In Aotearoa, the integration of bicultural and culturally responsive practice adds profound depth to creative arts therapy. The model of Te Whare Tapa Whā, developed by Sir Mason Durie, provides a foundational Māori health framework that aligns naturally with creative modalities. The four pillars—taha tinana (physical health), taha wairua (spiritual health), taha whānau (family and social wellbeing), and taha hinengaro (mental and emotional wellbeing)—highlight the interwoven nature of holistic wellbeing, which creative arts therapy directly supports. For example, engaging in weaving, kapa haka, or storytelling can serve not only as therapeutic practice but also as a reconnection to whakapapa (genealogy), whenua (land), and identity.

Creative arts therapy also offers a decolonising potential by centring indigenous ways of knowing and being. It encourages practitioners to work collaboratively with clients, respecting and incorporating their cultural knowledge and personal narratives into the therapy space. This emphasis on collaboration and co-creation supports the mana of the client, fostering empowerment rather than a top-down model of “fixing” someone.

Moreover, creative arts therapy aligns well with community-based and strengths-based approaches that are increasingly recognised as effective in New Zealand’s health and education sectors. It can be practiced one-on-one, in groups, or in community settings, offering a flexible and inclusive way to address collective trauma, foster resilience, and build social connection.

As a growing profession in Aotearoa, creative arts therapists are trained through rigorous postgraduate programmes and often registered with the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) or the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA), which upholds ethical practice and cultural competency. Practitioners are required to engage in ongoing professional development, often including supervision that reflects both clinical and cultural dimensions.

In a time where mental health services are in high demand, creative arts therapy offers an innovative, culturally relevant, and deeply humanising approach. By honouring the creative spirit in each individual and embracing the interconnectedness of wellbeing, creative arts therapy stands as a powerful and worthy practice within Aotearoa’s therapeutic landscape.

Wilbyn Mitchell

Counsellor and Art Practitioner