Narrative Art Therapy is a trauma-focused approach that uses creative expression to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. Based on neurobiological research, it combines the dual brain theory and the Instinctual Trauma Response (ITR) model developed by Linda Gantt and Laura Greenstone (2016).

How It Works:

Trauma can distort how we think and remember, making past events seem overwhelming and persistent in the present day. For individuals who develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from traumatic events, the rewriting of personal narratives can be extremely reassuring when traumatic memories overpower one’s ability to self-regulate and integrate past and present (Tinnin & Gantt, 2014, as cited in Gantt & Greenstone, 2016; Siegel, 2003).

Through rewriting our traumatic experiences through narrative means—i.e. storytelling techniques like creative writing, comic-making, stop motion animation, photography, filmmaking—we have the opportunity to integrate and provide closure to these events, so as to help our brains place these memories back into their original contexts.

What are the benefits of Narrative Art Therapy?

Trauma Reprocessing: Assists us to reframe and better understand traumatic experiences.
Neurobiological Understanding: Helps us to understand how trauma affects memory and how the use of narrative art can help promote neuroplasticity and healing.
Creative Expression: Helps to facilitate self-exploration and self-esteem through individual and collaborative artmaking (i.e. through making stories and sharing them with readers/viewers/audiences).
Empowerment: Provides a safe space for personal growth and transformation.
Healing and Integration: Helps us to integrate traumatic memories and restore balance in day-to-day life.

Comic Art Therapy

I am a passionate advocate for Comic Art Therapy and the Graphic Medicine field, which is “the intersection between the field of comics and the discourse of healthcare” (Graphic Medicine, 2024). I entered the field of Art Therapy through my diary comic memoirs I began writing in the midst of a period of profound grief and anxiety. My personal comics started to explore my experiences of mental health, identity, and culture. I read comics to gain insight into others' experiences and create them to better understand my own. When I work alongside others, I blend my background in creative writing, filmmaking, and comic art to support them in their personal growth. My approach varies with each client and session, and although I am no expert, my goal remains the same: to help others use sequential storytelling to navigate dominant narratives; understand the impact of trauma on the brain and body; and discover empowering ways to reframe experiences through a rich and multifaceted medium.

Comic Art Therapy harnesses the power of creating comics, zines, or graphic novels as a therapeutic medium. This approach allows people to combine imagery and text to explore and express deeply personal yet often universally relatable themes. The therapeutic impact of comics stems from their ability to elevate personal narratives through distinctive storytelling methods, fostering empathy, empowerment, and a profound respect for intersectional experiences. My admiration for comics is rooted in their inclusivity and their celebration of diversity. Just as no two human experiences are alike, no two comics are identical, even if they address similar events or are re-created by the same author after a period of time.

The elements of a comic provide deep insight into an individual’s internal state and thought processes. The task of crafting comics requires tackling various problem-solving questions simultaneously, such as dialogue, panel layout, pacing, and artistic style. The creative feat not only involves making choices about visual and narrative components and their relationship, but also reflects one’s psychological state and methods for addressing such challenges. By creating and workshopping comics with an Art Therapist, people can examine how their work aligns with their sociocultural and political values. An opportunity that promotes self-empathy and helps to identify emerging patterns, biases, and preferences we may unknowingly possess. This unique blend of structure and creativity provides a valuable framework for personal exploration, making comics powerful tools for healing, reflection, and self-expression.

Unlike traditional prose, comics involve filling in gaps between images (the gutters), making these spaces a necessary part of the overall narrative. I relate these gutters to how traumatic memories are stored in the brain and how our interpretations constantly change as a result of our continuous experiences. I find this aspect of comics especially meaningful as it highlights a key part of art therapy: that the process is just as important as the product.

If you're interested in exploring comics for mental health, book a session with me or join Nectar’s monthly comic open studio, Gutter Group. No prior experience with reading or creating comics is needed, and there are no age restrictions. Just like Art Therapy, comics are for everyone.

References

Gantt, L., & Greenstone, L. (2016). Narrative art therapy in trauma treatment. In Rubin, J. (Ed.), Approaches to art therapy: Theory and technique (3rd ed., pp. 353-370). Taylor & Francis Group.

Graphic Medicine. (2024, July 29). What is “Graphic Medicine”. https://www.graphicmedicine.org/why-graphic-medicine/.

McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Tundra Publishing.

Siegel, D. J. (2003). Toward an interpersonal neurobiology of the developing mind: Attachment relationships, “mindsight”, and neural integration. Infant Mental Health Journal, 22(1-2), 67-94.

Some examples of my Graphic Medicine work with young clients (shared with consent):

Some examples of my own reflective practice using comics:

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