15 Art Therapy Activities for Teens

Getting a teenager to share how they feel can be challenging. Teenagers may be too resistant or ashamed to express themselves in therapy. Through art therapy activities for teens, they can learn to be more in tune with their emotions and find helpful ways to cope.

This article will discuss the benefits of art therapy exercises for teens and what you can try at home.

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a counseling approach that utilizes creative expression to enhance a teenager’s well-being, work through trauma, or address mental health-related problems [*]. Art therapists facilitate these sessions with materials and prompts to guide teenagers through their emotions.

Through these sessions, teenagers can address the following:

• Stress and anxiety
  
• Low self-esteem
  
• Trauma
  
• Depression
  
• Physical pain or illness
  
• Poor emotional regulation
  
• Addiction and triggers
  

Benefits of Art Therapy for Teens

Art therapy is incredibly beneficial to teenagers who struggle to express themselves verbally. It can help them process complex emotions and achieve the following advantages:

• Safe outlets to discuss trauma: Some traumatic experiences can feel impossible to talk about—especially when you’re a teenager. Art therapy provides a safe space for teenagers to uncover hidden and painful emotions or make sense of things that may not be easy to express verbally [*].
• Improve self-esteem: Teenagers don’t have to be artistic to feel confident in their creativity. By creating art in a nonjudgmental space, they can gain a sense of mastery and accomplishment.
• Develop coping skills: Art therapy imparts helpful coping skills like mindful creation and deep breathing. Teenagers can master these skills and use them during stressful situations.
• Better social connections: When teenagers struggle to express themselves verbally, they may struggle to connect with peers. Some professionals host art therapy sessions in groups to help teenagers to meet like-minded people and find ways to bond. 

Art Therapy Activities for Teens

These fifteen activities are an excellent place to start if you’re looking for the best art therapy ideas for teens.

1. Self-Portrait

Drawing or painting a self-portrait can reveal much about how a person perceives themselves. Teenagers can explore their inner thoughts and characteristics they find challenging to accept.

Materials:

• Canvas or paper
  
• Paint
  
• Drawing and coloring materials
  
• Mirror

Steps:

1. Set up your teenager’s workspace. Place a mirror in front of them for reference.
2. Give them time to paint or draw their portrait.
3. Discuss what parts were most difficult to draw. What features does your teenager like most? What features are their least favorite? Discuss why.

2. Gratitude Collage

Some teenagers need to visualize the good in their lives. This activity can also be more stimulating than writing a gratitude list—by looking at a collage, teenagers can feel more uplifted and positive. 

Materials:

• Illustration board
  
• Magazines and printouts
  
• Writing and drawing materials
  
• Scissors
  
• Glue

Steps:

1. Ask your teenager to list the things they are most grateful for. 
   
2. Find visual representations of these things from magazines or printouts. 
   
3. Start laying out visuals on the board.
   
4. Discuss why your teenager chose these visuals and display their finished work.
   

3. Freeform Doodling

While it may seem simple and aimless, doodling can provide surprisingly profound benefits. This repetitive motion can relax the mind and distract teens from negative thoughts. 

Materials:

• Paper
  
• Pen or pencil

Steps:

1. Find a quiet space to do the exercise. 
   
2. Ask your teenager to breathe in. As they breathe in, ask them to doodle upwards. 
   
3. When your teenager breathes out, ask them to doodle downwards.
   
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 several times. You create a harmonious balance that calms the mind by synchronizing your teenager's breath and doodles.
   

4. Clay World Building

Clay can be a sensory and satisfying experience for teenagers who enjoy working with their hands. Using clay to world-build inspires teenagers’ creativity while keeping them focused on the present moment.

Materials:

• Air dry clay
  
• Illustration board
  
• Paint

Steps:

1. Lay down the board as your teenager’s clay base. 
   
2. Ask your teenager to start sculpting how they depict their world. They might mold their bedroom, favorite place, or fantasy island.
   
3. Discuss why your teenager built their world the way they did. What are their favorite parts of what they built? 
   

5. Group Mural

Group murals are an excellent way for teenagers to connect with others and build a sense of community in a safe space. 

Materials:

• Extra-large canvas
  
• Paintbrushes and paint

Steps:

1. Brainstorm the mural. Ask each participant what they want to create. An abstract painting? Landscape scenery? Find ideas online.
   
2. Assign each participant to a part of the canvas and start painting.
   
3. Ask each participant to switch sides every few minutes to create variety.
   
4. Discuss how the final product came together.
   

6. T-Shirt Painting

T-shirt painting is a fun and unique way for teenagers to represent themselves through what they wear. Certain colors, shapes, or figures might reflect how they feel or want to be perceived. This activity can help improve their self-awareness and how they present themselves to others.

Materials:

• Blank t-shirts
  
• Fabric paint
  
• Sketching materials

Steps:

1. Set up your teenager’s painting space. Find inspiration online, in photo albums, or in magazines.
   
2. Start sketching the design on the t-shirt. 
   
3. Paint the design. Encourage your teenager to wear their t-shirt and be proud of their creation!
   

7. Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a great way to gather memories, get creative, and find unique methods of self-expression. This creative activity can support emotional resilience by allowing teenagers to look back at old photos and reminisce fondly. 

Materials:

• Sketchpad
  
• Photo prints
  
• Magazines
  
• Scissors
  
• Glue
  
• Drawing materials

Steps:

1. Brainstorm a theme for each page. Your teenager might choose family, friends, a specific memory, or their dreams for the future. 
   
2. Use old photos, printouts, or magazine cutouts. Encourage your teenager to use unique materials like fallen leaves or household items like straws or fabric.
   
3. Discuss why your teenager chose a particular theme. Encourage them to work on a new theme each week.
   

8. Emotion Color Swatches

Creating emotion color swatches is a simple and creative way for teenagers to learn to navigate complex feelings. Associating their emotions with certain colors can help them become more in tune with their feelings.

Materials:

• Journal
  
• Coloring and writing materials

Steps:

1. Ask your teenager to list the emotions they’ve recently felt or feel most often.
   
2. Assign a color to each emotion. 
   
3. Discuss why your teenager assigned a certain color to a specific emotion. What colors make them feel calm? What colors make them feel angry?
   

9. Worry Beads

Worry beads are a string of decorative balls that help relieve stress and anxiety. They are a historical Greek symbol traditionally known as a symbol of relaxation and leisure. Teenagers can wear their worry beads as bracelets or keep them in their pockets to feel throughout the day.

Materials:

• Elastic string
  
• Beads or balls
  
• Pliers
  
• Embroidery string

Steps:

1. Cut the string according to your teenager’s wrist measurements.
   
2. Make a tassel with embroidery string. 
   
3. Start stringing the beads through. Ask your teenager to be mindful of their color choices and discuss what these colors represent.
   
4. Encourage your teenager to use their worry beads when they feel stressed and need a moment to themselves.
   

10. Dreamcatchers

Dreamcatchers are believed to filter out bad dreams and ensure positive thoughts throughout the night. They are beautiful art pieces and encourage teenagers to harness positive energy. 

Materials:

• Hoop
  
• Fabric or embroidery string
  
• Pliers
  
• Scissors
  
• Additional decorative materials (feathers or beads)

Steps:

1. Use a wooden or metal hoop. Select colors according to what your teenager relates to or likes most.
   
2. Start wrapping the loop with the suede or fabric.
   
3. Create a web with the embroidery string. 
   
4. Add beads as you create the web. 
   
5. Attach feathers to the finished dreamcatcher. Hang the dreamcatcher up by your teenager’s bed.
   

11. Music Movement

Music therapy provides participants with a sense of relief and much-needed emotional release. It can help improve their mood and boost positive emotions while providing an outlet for negative energy.

Materials:

• Speaker or radio

Steps:

1. Pick certain pieces of music your teenager can move to in a group or one-on-one session. 
   anvasPlay each piece of music, asking your teenager to flow and move to it.
2. Choose different kinds of music—something classical, upbeat, fast, and slow.
   
3. Ask your child to release any negative energy as they move to the music.
   

12. Mindful Coloring

Coloring can be a meditative activity that helps teenagers feel more comfortable when opening up to a therapist. It’s also well-known that colors can reflect how a person feels—coloring during a session can reflect what a teenager is experiencing. 

Materials:

• Coloring book
  
• Coloring materials (colored pencils, crayons, or markers)

Steps:

1. Choose a page to color. 
   
2. Start a discussion with your teenager while they color. Mind what colors they choose.
   
3. Ask them to reflect on why they chose certain colors or how the activity made them feel. Was it easier to discuss certain topics while coloring?
   

13. Abstract Painting

Abstract art transcends labels and coloring within the lines—it allows teenagers to express themselves freely and encourages their thoughts to flow. It’s a simple and intuitive activity that can speak volumes about their emotions.

Materials:

• Canvas
  
• Paint

Steps:

1. Get your teenager into the zone by playing music or putting on a calming podcast. 
   
2. Give them time to paint. Encourage them to find inspiration from their environment.
   
3. Discuss their final painting. Observe the shapes and colors they chose. 
   

14. Film Camera Album

Photographs provide a special way to immortalize unforgettable moments. Teenagers can reminisce on good times and memories through photographs. 

Materials:

• Disposable camera
  
• Scrapbook or photo album

Steps:

1. Provide your teenager with a film camera and ask them to take photographs of things they find beautiful throughout the day. 
   
2. Print and place these photos in an album. Encourage them to add captions and reflect on why they found the subjects in each photograph beautiful.
   

15. Affirmation Wall

Positive affirmations are an excellent way to improve a teenager’s self-belief and self-esteem. As teens, comparison is everywhere, and it’s easy to feel unworthy or not good enough. Reciting positive affirmations can remind teenagers they are worthy and loved.

Materials:

• Illustration board or chalkboard
  
• Writing materials

Steps:

1. Place the illustration board or chalkboard on the wall.
   
2. Ask your teenager to write an affirmation every week. Add designs to make the affirmation feel more positive and encouraging.
   

The Bottom Line

It isn’t uncommon for teenagers to struggle to express themselves, so it’s vital to provide avenues for safe discussion. Through art therapy activities for teenagers, they can learn to cope with overwhelming emotions and express themselves creatively.

If you’re incorporating art therapy as part of a comprehensive program, our collection of worksheets can enhance your child’s healing journey.

Sources:

1. Chiang M, Reid-Varley WB, Fan X. “Creative art therapy for mental illness.” Psychiatry Research, 2019.
2. Bowen-Salter H. “Towards a description of the elements of art therapy practice for trauma: a systematic review.” International Journal of Art Therapy, 2022.