The class is part of the expressive therapies minor now available for Northeastern students interested in exploring the role of art in “wellness, counseling, community development and expression.”
December 31, 2025
Excerpt by Tanner Stening‘s article:
The course, taught by art therapist and licensed mental health counselor Emily Natale, centers on the expressive and generative aspects of artmaking rather than technique. There is debate in the field, though: Natale said some art therapists believe in developing the skills toward mastery much as an artist would.
Others, including Natale, say you don’t need them to reap the benefits.
“The focus is more about moving from your heart versus having those technical or fine art skills,” Natale said.
Art therapy, in theory and in practice, is premised on the idea that the creative process itself is inherently therapeutic, Natale said. Simply engaging with materials can help shift the brain into more of a healing state, quieting negative self-talk and supporting emotional regulation. Even without verbal processing, she notes, making art promotes “brain integration,” which is part of the foundation for mental wellness.
Brain integration refers to practices that help better connect the emotional, sensory and cognitive regions of the brain, leading to better emotional regulation, clearer thinking and healthier responses to stressors.
