Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Activities: A Creative Path to Emotional Calm

Book Review: Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Activities by Jennie Powe Runde

A calm, creative companion for navigating emotions through art and presence

When stress, burnout, or overwhelm cloud our inner world, we often search for ways to reconnect with ourselves in more grounded and compassionate ways. Jennie Powe Runde’s Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Activities offers just that. It is a gentle, practical guide to returning to presence through creative expression. Rooted in both clinical research and expressive arts practice, the book invites readers to slow down, pay attention, and meet their inner experience with kindness.

This is not a book you need to read cover to cover. It is a toolbox of prompts and reflections that speak directly to moments when life feels heavy, unclear, or disconnected. Runde does not position herself as an authority with answers. Instead, she writes with the tone of a caring facilitator. Her goal is not to interpret the meaning of your art but to support a process that helps you listen more deeply to yourself.

The promise of the book

Runde opens with the promise that creativity can be a healing force, especially when paired with mindfulness. She explains that Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) combines the principles of present-moment awareness with non-judgmental creative exploration. The practice does not require artistic skill or experience. Instead, it values the process over the product and encourages reflection, emotional regulation, and self-understanding.

The book is designed to meet readers where they are. Whether navigating anxiety, grief, uncertainty, or simply seeking a creative reset, the activities are accessible, trauma-informed, and built around the belief that we are all creative beings by nature.

What the book delivers

The book is divided into two parts. Part One introduces the theory and history behind MBAT, including its clinical roots in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), art therapy, and expressive arts traditions. Runde explains how creative practice helps engage both emotional and cognitive systems in the brain and how mindfulness deepens that connection.

This foundation leads into Part Two, the core of the book, which offers more than 90 exercises across five creative mediums: painting and drawing, digital art and photography, sculpting and textiles, writing, and collage. Each chapter offers a wide range of activities, from “Paint Your Breath” to “Draw the Feeling,” “A Healing Haiku,” and “Pinpoint the Pattern.” Each prompt is structured with clear steps, suggested materials, and questions for mindful reflection.

What stands out is the balance between guidance and freedom. Runde provides just enough structure to help readers get started, but never dictates how the work should look or feel. She invites you to approach each exercise with curiosity, and she encourages adaptation. For instance, if focusing on the breath feels uncomfortable, she suggests shifting attention to the feet or sounds in the room. This trauma-informed lens runs quietly throughout the book, offering flexibility and safety.

The writing is warm and practical. There are no long theoretical passages or jargon-heavy explanations. Instead, the author’s voice feels present and companionable. She speaks directly to the reader, not to impress, but to encourage.

Style and tone

The tone of the book is one of gentle authority. Runde is clearly experienced in the fields of expressive arts therapy and mindfulness, but she never takes a top-down approach. Her writing feels invitational rather than instructional. She normalizes resistance, acknowledges that creative work can bring up discomfort, and reassures readers that there is no wrong way to engage.

The layout is intuitive, with each exercise formatted in a consistent structure that makes it easy to follow. Readers can flip to a section that suits their mood or materials, or follow the book sequentially. Each prompt begins with a title and a short paragraph explaining the intention. Then come the materials list, step-by-step guidance, and a set of reflection questions to help deepen the experience.

Visually, the book is well-organized and calming to navigate. The structure supports the tone, which remains patient and non-judgmental throughout.

Where the book shines

One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it integrates art, mindfulness, and emotional regulation without feeling clinical. Runde understands that people come to creative work with a variety of experiences. Some readers may be used to journaling or painting, while others may feel self-conscious or unsure. She anticipates these responses with compassion, offering reassurance and spaciousness.

The exercises themselves are another highlight. They are diverse and creatively rich, but all are grounded in presence and self-reflection. For example, “Full Body Drawing” helps the reader engage movement and body awareness, while “Love What You Love” brings digital photography into the mindfulness space. “Letting Go, Holding On” uses hand outlines to symbolically explore what we are ready to release and what we wish to carry forward.

The reflection questions at the end of each prompt are gentle and often surprising. They help bring the experience inward without feeling like an evaluation. Runde encourages noticing, not analysing.

Another quiet strength is the author’s honesty about what creativity can and cannot do. She makes it clear that this book is not a substitute for therapy. Instead, it is a supportive companion that can deepen insight and offer tools for emotional awareness. That transparency builds trust.

Light limitations

This book is written for individuals, so those seeking guidance on facilitating groups or working with specific populations may want additional resources. The prompts could easily be adapted for groups, but the book does not provide much direction on how to do that.

Readers who prefer a more narrative or theoretical approach might find the format less engaging. There are few long passages to read or stories to follow. The focus is on action, reflection, and self-led discovery.

Some exercises may feel familiar to readers who have already worked with art journaling, expressive arts, or mindfulness practices. However, Runde’s tone and structure help refresh even well-known techniques with new framing.

Final thoughts

Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Activities is a thoughtful, gentle book that helps reconnect you with yourself through creative presence. It respects the reader’s experience and offers a wide range of tools to support emotional regulation, self-discovery, and calm. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, seeking grounding, or simply wanting to explore art as a mindfulness practice, this book will meet you with warmth and clarity.

This is an especially helpful resource for therapists, educators, and caregivers who want to bring mindfulness and creativity into their own self-care. It is also ideal for those who may not consider themselves artists but are curious about how creativity can offer comfort and insight.

Above all, it is a book that respects slowness. In a world that often pushes for quick fixes or tidy answers, Runde reminds us that healing, like art, takes time. And that is a gift worth sitting with.

Highly recommended for women, caregivers, and mental health professionals who are looking for gentle, accessible ways to reduce stress and support emotional well-being through creativity and mindful awareness.