Accessible Art Therapy for Emotional Self-Care

Book Review: The Art Therapy Way by Kendyl Arden

A gentle, intuitive guide to using creativity as a path to emotional healing and deeper self-connection

In The Art Therapy Way, Kendyl Arden offers a compassionate and accessible approach to art as a form of emotional care. This is not a book for artists in the traditional sense. It is for anyone who needs a quiet space to reconnect with themselves through colour, image, movement, and reflection. Drawing from her personal journey with grief and her training in art therapy, Arden provides 50 carefully designed exercises to help readers process emotions, reduce anxiety, and deepen their sense of inner safety.

This book is a reminder that creativity is not about being good at something. It is about being present. With mindfulness, gentle prompts, and a spirit of non-judgment, Arden shows how making art can be a steady companion through joy, sadness, overwhelm, and transition.

What the book promises

The Art Therapy Way promises to guide readers through simple, meaningful art therapy exercises that support emotional expression and self-discovery. Each activity is designed to be completed in about 30 minutes, making the practice approachable even for those who feel short on time or energy. The goal is not to create perfect outcomes, but to create space for inner listening and expression.

Arden promises that no prior art experience is necessary. With minimal materials and a quiet mindset, readers can begin to explore their emotional landscape through creative process. The book also promises to offer healing and support for specific emotional states such as grief, anxiety, shame, and stress.

What the book delivers

The book delivers on its promise with warmth and clarity. It is divided into eleven themed sections, each addressing a different emotional state. Topics include loss, anger, safety, joy, stress, and love. In each section, Arden includes a collection of art therapy activities paired with mindfulness practices and reflection prompts.

The format is consistent throughout. Every activity begins with a gentle intention or centering meditation, followed by a creative prompt using accessible materials like paper, pens, paint, or collage. Each exercise ends with questions to support reflection, grounding, and insight.

Arden’s personal voice is woven throughout the book. She shares her own experience of navigating grief and emotional overwhelm, which gives the reader a sense of companionship. Rather than speaking from a place of expertise alone, she writes from lived experience, which makes the book feel deeply human.

Style and structure

The tone of the book is kind, calm, and encouraging. Arden writes with a sense of quiet presence, offering support without pressure. She speaks to the reader directly, often acknowledging the emotions that can arise when we slow down enough to listen inward.

The structure is thoughtfully designed. Readers can use the book in sequence or open to the section that fits their current emotional state. The themes are clearly labeled, and the layout is consistent and easy to follow. This makes the book feel reliable and safe, especially for those working with vulnerable emotions.

There are no complicated instructions or artistic techniques. The focus is on process, not product. The writing is accessible and free from jargon, making it suitable for a wide range of readers, including those new to creativity or emotional work.

Where the book shines

The book shines in its emotional intelligence and simplicity. Arden understands that many people avoid creative practices because they fear doing it wrong or not being talented enough. She gently dissolves these fears by reminding readers that the point of art therapy is to connect, not to impress.

Her inclusion of a mindfulness practice before each activity is especially powerful. It helps the reader shift from doing to being, and from urgency to presence. This framing makes the creative work feel intentional and emotionally anchored.

Another strength is the book’s variety. Arden offers prompts using different materials and approaches, from painting to collage to writing. This allows readers to find a method that suits them. It also invites experimentation and play, which is often missing from self-care practices that focus only on stillness or rest.

The reflection questions that follow each activity are well-crafted. They avoid being overly abstract or leading. Instead, they help readers understand their process and begin to name what is surfacing. This can be especially supportive for people who are navigating big feelings and want gentle containment.

Light limitations

While the book is rich in emotional insight, some readers may want visual examples or illustrations to help spark ideas. Arden intentionally avoids showcasing artwork in order to keep the focus on process over product, but visual learners might feel uncertain about how to start without any reference images.

The spiritual language in some parts of the book may not resonate with everyone. Arden occasionally uses words like sacred, soul, and divine. While the tone is inclusive and non-denominational, readers looking for a strictly secular approach may prefer to adapt the language to suit their own beliefs.

Because the exercises are designed to be open-ended and nonlinear, readers who are seeking a guided, cumulative program may need to create their own structure. The book works well as a tool for spontaneous or ongoing use, but does not provide a formal progression.

Final thoughts

The Art Therapy Way is a generous and gently guided path toward emotional expression through creative process. Kendyl Arden has created a book that feels like a safe place to land. It honours the reader’s experience, validates their emotions, and offers a steady hand through the practice of art-making.

This book is a quiet kind of medicine. It does not rush. It does not ask for perfection. It invites you to begin with what you have, where you are, and to let the creative process hold what you may not yet have words for.

Highly recommended for therapists, educators, caregivers, and anyone looking for an intuitive, reflective self-care practice.