Art Therapy: the key to unlocking breakthroughs

We’re excited to welcome Shawna Krienitz, LPC, ATR, CEDS, to the Christian Family Solutions team as a Program Therapist for our Online Day Treatment for Teens program. Shawna brings a broad skill set that includes trauma-informed care and specialized art therapy techniques that were refined through her experience designing an online curriculum during COVID-19. As part of her introduction, we asked her to share a success story from her previous clinical work using art therapy.

On the outside, Jakob* seemed unstoppable. At just 14, he was a straight-A student, a standout athlete, and a quiet leader among his peers. But beneath the surface, Jakob was silently battling emotions he didn’t fully understand.

I met Jakob when he was participating in an online day treatment program. He appeared mild-mannered in therapy groups: kind, cooperative, and even supportive of his peers. However, his home and school environments told a different story. Angry outbursts, frustration, and emotional volatility were becoming increasingly common. His academic and athletic success masked an internal struggle.

Jakob couldn’t articulate why he was so angry. Traditional talk therapy involving cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral techniques helped him identify patterns. Melding these techniques with art therapy became the key to unlocking Jakob’s deeper emotional world, helping him access what words couldn't.

The Mask Activity: Seeing the Unseen

In one of his early art therapy sessions, Jakob was asked to design a mask. The left side would represent the face he showed to the world; the right side, how he truly felt on the inside.

As he painted, something began to shift. When Jakob presented his mask to the group, he spoke with a vulnerability no one had seen before. The right side, the "inside" version of himself, reflected deep-rooted feelings of shame, fear, and self-doubt. These emotions had never made their way into conversation before, not because Jakob was unwilling, but because he lacked the awareness and language to express them until they were right in front of him, visually laid bare.

The Iceberg Activity: Discovering What Lies Beneath

Later, Jakob participated in another powerful experiential project: drawing an iceberg. The top represented his anger outbursts - what others could see. But below the surface, he was asked to illustrate the underlying thoughts, emotions, and experiences fueling his anger.

Through this activity, Jakob uncovered a relentless fear of failure. He carried the belief that his worth was tied to his achievements. He was anxious, overwhelmed, and convinced he would eventually let everyone down. Anger had become his defense, an emotional smokescreen protecting his vulnerabilities.

By exploring these themes through art, Jakob was finally able to articulate what words had failed to uncover. Once he began to challenge the belief that his value was based on performance, he was able to develop new coping strategies for anxiety and learn communication skills to express his anger in healthy ways. In turn, he gained greater control over his emotions.

A Meaningful Transformation

Jakob's progress after these sessions was significant. With the insight and self-awareness developed through art therapy, he reached his treatment goals and successfully graduated from the program.

Art therapy didn’t just help Jakob manage his anger. It helped him understand it. By externalizing his inner world through creative expression, Jakob experienced emotional breakthroughs that changed the course of his healing journey.

Learn More or Make a Referral

If you know a teen who’s struggling beneath the surface, we’re here to help. Our Online Day Treatment program includes group therapy, individual therapy, family therapy,  and now art therapy—offering a creative path to healing for adolescents and teens in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Learn More about Online Day Treatment for Teens

Make a Referral Here

* Jakob's name has been changed to protect client confidentiality.