What it is:

This is a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) based Art Therapy resource that is designed to support counselors in practicing multicultural counseling by providing an accessible, and adaptive approach to engaging with a diverse range of clients.

How it works:

This resource combines DBT principles with art therapy prompts. Each activity is structured to promote insight, self-regulation, and emotional resilience through hands-on, creative engagement rather than discussion alone.

Each art therapy prompt is:

• Flexible: Adaptable to different settings, tools, and client needs

• Interpretive: Focused on personal meaning rather than artistic skill

• Therapeutic: Grounded in DBT skills to support emotional growth

Module Organization:

The resource is organized into five core DBT skill areas

1. Mindfulness

2. Distress Tolerance

3. Emotion Regulation

4. Interpersonal Effectiveness

5. Skill Integration

Using the modules:

Each module contains three art therapy activities. 

They can be used:

• Sequentially (if following a structured DBT curriculum)

• Out of order (to target specific client needs or therapeutic goals)

This resource is suitable for:

• Clinical art therapists integrating DBT into their practice

• Counselors working with culturally or linguistically diverse populations

• Counselors working with Neurodiverse clients

• Counselors or clients seeking non-verbal therapeutic tools

• Individuals engaging in personal self-care and emotional exploration

Goal of resource: The emphasis is on process over product, with the idea being to use creativity to build insight, flexibility, and self-compassion.