Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Art Therapy are both powerful therapy modalities that can enhance mental health, particularly for children, teens, and young adults struggling with emotional dysregulation, distress, and relationship challenges. When combined, DBT and Art Therapy create a unique and dynamic approach to mental health treatment. This blog will outline 10 effective DBT-based art therapy exercises—divided into categories of Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, Interpersonal Effectiveness, and Mindfulness—while also exploring the benefits of merging these two therapeutic modalities.

“Research indicates that integrating art therapy into established psychotherapy forms, such as cognitive-behavioral therapies, can have significant positive effects on client well-being.”- Mary Kate Roohan Psy.D. Action-Based DBT

At Davenport Creative Arts Therapy, we offer these integrated approaches to help children, teens, and young adults in Westchester and Midtown Manhattan manage emotions and build the skills they need to thrive.

The Intersection of DBT and Art Therapy

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic modality designed to help individuals regulate emotions, tolerate distress, improve interpersonal effectiveness, and live mindfully. While originally developed to treat individuals with borderline personality disorder, DBT has since been applied to treat a range of Dialectical Behavior Therapy mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, and more.

Art Therapy uses the creative process to explore emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, and enhance social skills. It is particularly useful for children and adolescents who may struggle to articulate their feelings verbally. Through drawing, painting, and other creative outlets, individuals can externalize their emotions and gain insight into their inner world.

When combined, DBT and Art Therapy allow individuals to explore and process their emotions in a non-verbal, expressive way while simultaneously developing concrete coping skills. Let’s dive into 10 DBT-inspired art therapy exercises that target specific skill areas.

Emotion Regulation Art Therapy Exercises

1. Emotion Wheel Drawing

In DBT, emotional awareness is a cornerstone of emotional regulation. To help children, teens, and young adults better identify and understand their emotions, the "Emotion Wheel" exercise involves creating a pie chart-like wheel. Each segment of the wheel represents a different emotion (such as anger, sadness, joy, fear, etc.).

How to do it:
Using colored pencils or markers, have the individual fill in the segments of the wheel with colors that represent each emotion. This allows for a visual representation of the complexity of their feelings. Once complete, discuss how each emotion feels in their body and how they can regulate these emotions with DBT techniques like opposite action or building positive experiences.

2. Mood Journal Collage

Tracking emotions over time can be highly beneficial for emotional regulation. The "Mood Journal Collage" is an art-based version of a DBT mood diary, where individuals track their emotions daily and express them through collage.

How to do it:
Each day, encourage the person to cut out images or shapes from magazines or create their own images that represent how they are feeling. At the end of the week, review the collage together, discussing any patterns or shifts in mood. This exercise promotes emotional awareness, which is a foundational skill in DBT.

3. Creating a "Emotions Thermometer"

Another essential DBT skill is recognizing the intensity of emotions. A "Feelings Thermometer" helps individuals rate their emotions on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being calm and 10 being extremely intense.

How to do it:
Have the person draw a large thermometer on a sheet of paper and use different colors to represent different emotional states. For example, blue might represent calm, yellow could indicate mild stress, and red could represent extreme anger or distress. Discuss strategies for moving down the thermometer, such as using DBT's self-soothing techniques or opposite action.

Distress Tolerance Art Therapy Exercises

4. Grounding Mandala Drawing

Grounding exercises are key to distress tolerance. Drawing mandalas can help individuals calm their mind and body, especially during moments of intense distress.

How to do it:
Using colored pencils or markers, have the individual draw a mandala—a circular, symmetrical design—starting from the center and working outward. The repetitive nature of mandala drawing can promote mindfulness and grounding. Encourage the person to focus on their breathing as they draw, using this as an opportunity to tolerate and regulate difficult emotions.

5. Create a "Safe Space" Collage

The "Safe Space" collage is an excellent tool for building distress tolerance. In DBT, creating a mental or physical "safe place" to retreat to during overwhelming moments is essential. This exercise externalizes that concept through art.

How to do it:
Have the individual cut out images from magazines or draw representations of things that make them feel safe and comforted—such as images of nature, favorite places, or calming colors. Displaying this collage in their room can serve as a visual reminder of their safe space during moments of distress.

6. Stress Ball Making

Hands-on, tactile activities can reduce distress and provide an outlet for uncomfortable feelings. Making a stress ball allows individuals to engage in a soothing, creative activity while learning how to self-soothe.

How to do it:
Using a balloon, flour, and a funnel, help the individual create their own stress ball. Once complete, they can decorate it with markers or other materials, making it uniquely their own. Squeezing the stress ball during moments of distress provides both a physical release and a reminder of their creative work.

Interpersonal Effectiveness Art Therapy Exercises

7. Communication Mask

Interpersonal effectiveness in DBT focuses on improving communication and relationships. The "Communication Mask" exercise helps individuals explore the difference between how they present themselves to others and how they feel inside.

How to do it:
Provide a blank mask and have the individual decorate one side to represent how they present themselves to the world (e.g., happy, calm, or in control) and the other side to represent how they feel inside (e.g., anxious, sad, or frustrated). This visual dichotomy can open up conversations about authenticity in communication and the importance of expressing true feelings.

8. Boundaries Shield

Setting healthy boundaries is a crucial DBT skill for interpersonal effectiveness. The "Boundaries Shield" exercise allows individuals to explore and assert their personal limits.

How to do it:
Have the individual draw a shield and divide it into four sections. In each section, they will represent different aspects of their boundaries (e.g., physical, emotional, time-related, and mental). For example, they might write or draw a symbol that represents their need for personal space or how they want to be treated by others. This art piece can serve as a visual reminder of their boundaries and assertiveness skills.

9. Relationship Circle Drawing

The "Relationship Circle" exercise helps individuals assess the health of their relationships and understand how much emotional energy they invest in different people.

How to do it:
Draw three concentric circles on a large sheet of paper. In the innermost circle, the individual will place names or symbols representing the people closest to them, such as family or close friends. In the middle circle, they will include acquaintances or colleagues, and in the outer circle, people they feel distant from. This exercise helps them visualize their social network and evaluate where they might need to set healthier boundaries or strengthen connections.

Mindfulness Art Therapy Exercise

10. Mindful Coloring

Mindfulness is at the heart of DBT, helping individuals stay grounded in the present moment. "Mindful Coloring" is a simple yet effective way to practice mindfulness, especially for children and adolescents.

How to do it:
Provide the individual with intricate coloring pages or mandalas and encourage them to focus solely on the act of coloring—paying attention to the colors they choose, the motion of their hand, and their breath. This helps calm the mind and promotes mindfulness, which is key to both emotional regulation and distress tolerance.

Benefits of Combining DBT and Art Therapy

By integrating DBT and Art Therapy, therapists can offer a dual approach that engages both the mind and body in the therapeutic process. The act of creating art allows individuals to express emotions that may be too difficult to put into words, while DBT skills provide concrete tools for managing those emotions.

Some of the key benefits of combining DBT and Art Therapy include:

• Non-verbal expression: Art therapy provides a way to externalize and process emotions without needing to find the right words.

• Increased emotional awareness: Visualizing emotions through art can help individuals become more aware of their emotional states.

• Tangible coping tools: Art-based activities like stress ball-making or collage can serve as physical reminders of DBT skills.

• Enhanced engagement: For children and teens who may struggle with traditional talk therapy, art therapy offers a more engaging, interactive approach to learning DBT skills.

Davenport Creative Arts Therapy Services

At Davenport Creative Arts Therapy, we specialize in integrating DBT and Art Therapy to help children, teens, and young adults regulate emotions, build distress tolerance, improve interpersonal relationships, and practice mindfulness. Our team of licensed therapists and interns is here to support families in Westchester County and Midtown Manhattan. We offer individual therapy, group sessions, and sliding scale options to ensure accessibility for all families.

If you’re interested in learning more about our services or scheduling a free consultation, visit our website or contact us here.

By incorporating these 10 DBT-based art therapy exercises into therapeutic practice, individuals can build a rich toolbox of skills for managing their emotions, improving their relationships, and fostering overall mental well-being