🌟 Art Therapy in Action: Client’s Positivity Jar & Night Light 🌙

Client lives with AADC deficiency, a rare genetic disorder with fewer than 350 reported cases worldwide, which affects the brain’s ability to produce key neurotransmitters—causing motor delays, extreme fatigue, mood dysregulation, and making everyday activities a physical and emotional challenge.

Yesterday’s session with Client was a quiet, glowing reminder of how small acts of care can become powerful tools for emotional healing.

We began by laying out a collection of positive affirmation stickers — each one holding a word of hope, strength, or love. I invited her to pick the ones that spoke to her most, the ones she felt she needed to hear on days that feel heavy.

She then gently wrote down the things that bring her joy — simple activities, comforting rituals that help her reconnect to herself.

 Together, we filled a little jar with these messages and joyful reminders. Now, when she notices sadness creeping in on her mood board, she can “lucky dip” from the jar — pulling out a positive quote or an activity that brings her comfort, like a quiet nudge from her own inner strength.

This activity wasn’t just about creating a craft — it was about building emotional tools.

 Tools that can encourage independence, instead of dependency on your therapist

 Tools to remember what brings joy

 Tools to hold space for herself when the world gets quiet

She also shared that she often shares that she has trouble sleeping at night. So we added a soft light inside, transforming it into a gentle night light. Now, during those quiet hours when thoughts run loud and loneliness creeps in, her jar becomes a warm, glowing reminder that hope is never too far away.

And in the soft glow of night — when loneliness often feels the loudest — her DIY night light gently lights up the room, reminding her that hope isn’t gone, it just needed to be turned on again.

It was Client’s very first step in learning to be her own gentle guide — and that is the kind of resilience we quietly celebrate in art therapy.

Because healing doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it glows softly in a jar.

 If you know someone — a loved one, a friend, or even yourself — who may benefit from art psychotherapy sessions like this, we’re here. Let's build a supporting community for mental health.

Soul HeARTful believes that everyone deserves a safe, creative space to heal and grow. Every art therapy session should ignite creativity, curiosity, and connection. It doesn’t have to be clinical, rigid, or boring. In fact, the most powerful healing often happens when we are smiling, engaged, and feeling safe to explore.

Whether through stickers, slime, song lyrics, soft clay, or colourful collages — therapy can be playful and profound. Every material we choose and every moment we share is designed to support emotional healing, build confidence, and make the process feel meaningful for you.

 Because healing doesn’t always look like a serious painting on a canvas. Let's get creative. Let’s make therapy feel like something to look forward to — not something to fear.