A writer shares her experience trying a splatter paint room for stress relief.
Here’s what art therapists have to say about its benefits.
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Its a popular street thats home to country music legends.
I was looking for a studio that had nothing to do with music.
Not only was I intrigued, but at the time, I was very,verystressed.
board-certified art therapist and founder ofCreative Insight Mental Wellness
Call it the millennial condition.
Call it watching my elderly parents deteriorate at a breathtaking pace.
Call it whatever you want, but almost every morning last summer Id woken up in a low-boiling panic.
I wracked my brain (alone and with my therapist) over what could be the culprit.
Maybe it was something I hadnt even thought of.
Similar stressful experiences led Laurian to open Therapaint.
Navigating her husbands ongoing health issues and caring for their young children, Laurian began to drown in overwhelm.
Needless to say, when my invitation to throw paint reached my inbox, I was all in.
And I was curious: Could throwing paint against a wall really help my simmering anxiety?
board-certified art therapist and founder ofCreative Insight Mental Wellness
I was about to find out.
The studio is a beautifully updated bungalow that, honestly, I wish I could move into.
Then it was time for the session.
I started by choosing four non-toxic paints, which Laurian set up for me in an upstairs studio.
The space was well-lit without being harsh, and open, like a well-intentioned invitation.
I looked at the timer.
Five minutes had passed.
Thats when I decided to have fun.
Forty-ish minutes later, I walked out of the studio a little dazed and…settled.
Laurian greeted me with a knowing smile.
Unsurprisingly, Im not the only one whos found a reprieve in the paint.
People are coming in with grief and loss.
People are coming in with regular, everyday stress: too much laundry, not enough sleep.
Its everything across the board, says Laurian.
Whats the difference between paint throwing and art therapy?
Its about the process, not the final piece of art, says Tiku.
While paint throwing may carry whiffs of art therapy, experts say its not the same thing.
For one, a paint throwing session isnt typically supervised by a licensed professional.
If Im doing an individual session, Im absolutely going to process with a client.
This involves the client responding to open-ended questions posed by the therapist, she adds.
That being said, art therapists may use paint throwing as a modality in their sessions.
This is not to say you cant try paint throwing on your own for anxiety.
Can paint throwing help anxiety?
Paint throwing can provide a positive release, like venturing out on a hike or trying a new recipe.
For stress, specifically, art therapy has been shown to reducehigh cortisol levelsin adults.
Where paint throwing fits in, though, depends greatly on the client and clinician.
Mainly, it helps tap intohealing your inner child.
Doing something new and different can be inspirational and perhaps a release of tension and stress.
Adults need to find time to play, its not just for kids.
Doing something new and different can be inspirational and perhaps a release of tension and stress.
We would dance spontaneously, and role-play, and do all these fun things.
Both Laurian and Curran also mention paint throwing can help people overcome the mindset that theyre not artists.
[Its] something beautiful coming from something difficult, Laurian says.
But be sure to keep your expectationsand needsin check.
[Paint throwing studios] are great for your overall well-being and connection, but its not therapy.
Art therapy can only be conducted with a licensed and trained professional, she says.
Laurian doesnt claim that Therapaint is a replacement for art therapy, either.
You may also have some luck searching on Instagram or TikTok for local businesses.
Ultimately, the right paint studio will depend on what youre looking for out of the session.
I, for one, cant wait to go back and relieve some stress.
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