Art therapy encourages children and young people to better understand thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. By creating images and objects, children and young people can begin to see the thoughts and feelings they have inside and be supported by the art therapist to better understand themselves and find solutions.

Art therapy can make it easier for some children to process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences as it does not rely solely on words, making it accessible to both younger and older children,  young adults, as well as individuals who are neurologically diverse.

Art therapy can involve the use of mark-making, painting,  drawing,  junk modelling, clay, fabric, photography, collage, and stop-motion animation depending on the individual.