Creative Art Therapy – by Pheonix Rising
When Therapy Isn’t Enough: The 2 AM Breakdown
Hey Empresses,
Let’s be real for a second. Counseling and physical therapy are excellent—they’re at the top of everyone’s list for emotional healing, and for good reason. They help you understand and dissect your root problems. But then what? What happens when you have an emotional breakdown at 2 AM and your therapist is unavailable until your next appointment?
Some therapists don’t want to be woken up at 7 AM to clock in and hear about people’s dilemmas all day, let alone at 3 AM. And what if it’s not really a matter you’re prepared to address with the world yet? What if you don’t even know what’s bothering you?
That’s when you need an outlet that allows you to express yourself without words.
It’s called CREATIVE EXPRESSION, WHERE YOUR CREATIVITY IS FREE TO ROAM!
My Journey: From Hating English Class to Finding Freedom Through Art
I’m going to be honest with you—writing was never my thing. In high school, I absolutely hated English class. The five-paragraph essays, the short stories, anything that involved exercising my mind felt like torture. I’ve always been a rebel who found rules very dull, but I had to navigate them respectably to avoid trouble. Trust me, the clank-clanks (handcuffs) were never something I was proud of or ready for.
But here I am now, behind these walls, writing to you. Why? Because I found a way to let my mind roam free within various forms of creative arts. And empresses, this opened up a whole new world of liberation, helping me boss up in ways I never imagined.
The Story That Changed Everything: Healing My Daughter’s Eczema
Let me take you back to the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. My daughter was suffering from a common skin condition called eczema—those super dry patches on her skin that wouldn’t go away no matter what I tried. I tested every name-brand baby wash, soap, and lotion on the market. Nothing worked.
I was already going through severe postpartum depression, and I felt even worse because I felt like I was failing my daughter. As a mother, that feeling is unbearable.
So one day, out of desperation, I decided to search up DIY (Do It Yourself) eczema soaps. Boom—that, along with a whipped body butter recipe, came up. The wonderful thing about these two products was that they were 100% cost-efficient. During the pandemic, I was unemployed, and finding new jobs was challenging. Since it was cost-efficient, I wasn’t hesitant to pull from my savings, especially for my baby.
Within three weeks, my daughter’s eczema cleared up.
That moment made me feel like a proud mommy and pulled me out of that depressive funk. After I saw what I was capable of doing while depressed, I wanted to do more. I wanted to make more products—now with fragrances, different color patterns, something unique that represented me!
That’s when my creative big bang happened. After experimenting and having success on my own skin, I was ready to elevate. The next question came: “How can I make money with this?”
And that’s when I realized: creativity isn’t just therapy—it’s power.
Understanding Art Therapy: It’s Not About Being “Good” at Art
Okay, let’s now talk about the many forms of artistry. Don’t get scared or mad because the last picture you drew was a stick figure family. That’s not the type of art therapy I’m talking about.
Art therapy to me is a way to express yourself in a way that words could never.
The meaning behind “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” means that when you’re throwing a bunch of dark shades of paint on a canvas in the spur of the moment, it signifies a release of anger. When someone is angry at that moment and sees your painting, they’ll immediately know the pain behind it.
The same goes for poetry—when people are rhyming, it’s just words flowing. But if you aren’t on the same wavelength with them at that time, you won’t understand the art behind their rhymes.
Art therapy isn’t about perfection. It’s about release.
My Creative Outlets: Photography, Vinyl, Sublimation, and Painting
After giving birth to my son, I was going through yet another wave of postpartum depression. I was also fighting my court case, which, of course, was taking a significant toll on me. And since it was an open case, I couldn’t vent to anyone about it. I knew I had to find healthier ways to cope because the other ways weren’t an option anymore.
Here are the creative art therapies that saved me:
Photography: Capturing Moments That Disappear in Seconds
Photography is such a beautiful art to me because you get to capture moments that are lost in the blink of an eye. One move, and the memory is gone forever—unless you have a Canon, a Nikon, or a smartphone.
My fiancé heard about my interest in photography and surprised me with a Canon camera set with multiple lenses. I took that camera everywhere and photographed everything that caught my eye.
I took pictures of the blue jays in our Japanese cherry blossom tree. I went hunting for a woodpecker I knew was pecking somewhere around our condo, and once I found it, I stood for about 15 minutes, taking multiple angles.
For all my photographers out there, you know why I had to stand there for 15 minutes. I had to lie on the floor, crouch behind a car, hang upside down—to get three good pictures! That’s the art of forming patience. But the results are worth it.
And once you get your three pictures, the fun part begins: editing. Oh, the fun you have when you get to play with brightness, saturation, hues, contrast, double effects, and Photoshop! I loved making my own rules and playing by them.
Photography taught me to slow down, observe, and find beauty in the present moment— even when everything around me felt chaotic.
Vinyl and Sublimation: Making My Mark on Everything
Vinyl printing is when you see all the words on shirts, hats, gloves, jackets, sweaters—that’s vinyl. The liberation from that is being able to add whatever sayings, colors, wording, and fonts to your clothing items, and it will always be unique.
Sublimation is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE because you can literally sublimate anything. You can add pictures to cups and mugs—and by pictures, I mean like your face. So if you’re obsessed
with yourself, you can sublimate your whole house! (Yeah, that would be your best bet because it would look creepy ordering 20 mugs, 10 blankets, five pillowcases, 15 socks, and two jackets from Amazon with your picture on them!)
You can also take pictures with your camera, upload them to your computer, and sublimate them onto whatever you want. It’s really unique—you already know you’re the only one with that image—another form of creative freedom.
This taught me that I could turn my vision into reality. I could create something that represented exactly who I am.
Painting: The Ultimate Emotional Release
Painting is my favorite because there’s no criticism when you want to express yourself on a canvas.
When I’m depressed, I’ll just grab my paintbrush and my favorite colors and start dabbing purple here, blue here, white there, add some drips of purple over the white, then add some red strokes here. Then I’ll grab my index finger and drag it across the top, and boom—instant happiness.
When I’m mad, I grab random colors—red, black, yellow, and gray — and start dragging them around the canvas. Then I grab a white paintbrush and smear it around, and whatever I come up with is the art of the day.
A great technique is painting with friends. Painting under pressure is so much fun. You have to come up with a design within a certain amount of time, then compare pictures and see if you can guess their mood or what they were trying to express.
Painting taught me that even my mess can become something beautiful. That even in my anger, sadness, or confusion, I can create something meaningful.
Creative art therapy has helped many people express emotions beyond language. According to The Psychology Times, art therapy holds the power to heal when words fall short.
Why Creative Art Therapy Matters Behind These Walls
Being incarcerated has stripped away a lot of my coping mechanisms. I can’t run to drugs. I can’t escape into meaningless relationships. I can’t numb myself with alcohol. Behind these walls, there’s nowhere to hide from your emotions.
And honestly? That’s been the greatest gift and the most complex challenge.
Creative art therapy has become my lifeline. When I can’t afford commissary for art supplies, I write. When I can’t sleep because the weight of everything is crushing me, I sketch on whatever paper I can find. When I’m angry at my situation, I create something—anything—that reminds me I still have control over something in my life.
The Art of Independent Counseling
Creative art therapy is a magnificent technique for independent counseling, and I highly encourage it. Why? Because sometimes we depend too much on people to guide us down a path we need to drive alone.
Then, when the person holding your hand has to take a different route, we want to sit and wait for someone else to tow our life’s vehicle. That’s not how life works.
The only person who is capable of rising with you at all times is God Almighty, who’s a living spiritual being. Of course, we can’t see Him driving with us, but He’s there. So when we don’t have anybody physically guiding us, we do art therapy as a form of emotional release.
We learn to be there for ourselves.
Other Forms of Creative Expression You Can Try
You don’t need expensive supplies or special training to start. Here are more creative outlets that can help you heal:
Writing and Journaling
• Stream of consciousness writing: Set a timer for 10 minutes and write whatever comes to mind without stopping
• Poetry: Express your feelings in verses, rhymes, or free form
• Letters you never send: Write to people who hurt you, to your younger self, to your future self
• Gratitude journaling: List three things you’re grateful for each day
Music and Sound
• Singing: Belt out your favorite songs or create your own
• Drumming or beat-making: Use your hands, pens, cups—whatever you have • Playlist creation: Curate songs that match or shift your mood
• Humming or vocal exercises: Release tension through sound
Movement and Dance
• Free-form dancing: Move however your body wants to move
• Yoga or stretching: Connect breath with movement
• Walking meditation: Move mindfully and observe your surroundings • Shadow boxing: Release anger safely through movement
Crafts and Hands-On Creation
• Origami or paper folding: Create beauty from simple materials • Braiding or knotting: Friendship bracelets, macramé, hair art
• Collage: Cut and paste images that represent your feelings
• Clay or playdough sculpting: Mold your emotions into form
Digital and Modern Art
• Digital drawing on your phone or tablet: Free apps make it accessible • Photo editing: Transform images to express your vision
• Graphic design: Create motivational quotes and images
• Video creation or editing: Tell your story visually
How to Start Your Creative Art Therapy Practice
Step 1: Choose Your Medium
Pick something that calls to you. Don’t overthink it—start with what feels right or what’s accessible to you.
Step 2: Set Aside Time
Even 10-15 minutes a day can make a difference. Consistency matters more than duration.
Step 3: Create Without Judgment
This is for you, not for anyone else. Let go of perfectionism and create.
Step 4: Notice How You Feel
Pay attention to how your emotions shift before, during, and after creating.
Step 5: Keep Going
Some days will feel magical. Other days won’t. Keep creating anyway. The Liberation of Creating Something from Nothing
Here’s what I’ve learned behind these walls: When everything has been taken from you, creativity reminds you that you still have something to give.
I can’t control when I get out. I can’t control court dates or legal decisions. I can’t control how people on the outside view me. But I can control what I create today.
Every poem I write is proof that I still have a voice.
Every drawing I sketch is proof that I can still make something beautiful. Every article I craft is proof that I can still help someone else.
That’s power. That’s freedom. That’s healing.
A Challenge for You, Empresses
This week, I challenge you to try one form of creative expression. Just one. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be Instagram-worthy. It just has to be yours.
Maybe you:
• Write a poem about how you’re feeling
• Paint or draw with whatever supplies you have
• Take photos of things that make you feel something
• Dance to your favorite song like nobody’s watching
• Create a vision board of your dreams
• Make something with your hands—anything
Then notice how you feel afterward.
Did your shoulders relax? Did your breathing slow down? Did you smile without realizing it? Did you cry and finally release something you’ve been holding?
All of that is healing. All of that is growth. All of that is you taking your power back.
Your Story Matters: Share Your Creative Journey
Empresses, I can’t wait to see and hear about the techniques you’ve been using to battle depression or release pressure!
Share Your Creative Art Therapy Journey
Have you discovered a creative outlet that helps you cope? Have you created something you’re proud of? Do you have tips or techniques that have helped you express emotions you couldn’t put into words?
I want to hear from you!
How to Share:
Email us at: unapologeticallycaged@gmail.com
Share pictures on Instagram: @UnapologeticallyCaged
What to share:
• Photos of your art, crafts, or creative projects
• Your story of how creativity helped you heal
• Tips and techniques that worked for you
• Questions about getting started with art therapy
• Encouragement for other empresses on their journey
Remember: You can share anonymously if you prefer. This is a judgment-free zone where we celebrate every creative expression, no matter how “perfect” it is.
Final Thoughts: You Are Already Creative
You don’t need to be “artistic” to benefit from creative expression. You don’t need expensive supplies or formal training. You need to be willing to try, to let go of judgment, and to permit yourself to create.
Behind these walls, I’ve learned that creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s survival.
It’s how we maintain our humanity when everything tries to strip it away. It’s how we remember who we are when the world tries to define us by our worst moments. It’s how we build hope when circumstances say there’s nothing to hope for.
So Empresses, grab whatever you have—a pen, a phone, your voice, your body—and create something today. Not for anyone else. For you.
Because you deserve an outlet, you deserve to express yourself. You deserve to feel the liberation that comes from making something that’s entirely yours.
Let your creativity flow. Let it heal you. Let it remind you that you are still here, still robust, still capable of creating beauty even in the darkest places.
Rise, Empresses. Create your way to freedom.
Written by Ruth “Phoenix Rising” Moise
Haitian American Writer, Mother, Wife, Warrior
Currently Incarcerated, Forever Rising
Contact: unapologeticallycaged@gmail.com
Instagram: @UnapologeticallyCaged
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