A Pathway to Healing: Embracing Creativity to Overcome Emotional Wounds
How creativity, faith, and therapy can help you heal from shame and find emotional growth.
Welcome to our exploration of the transformative power of pottery as a creative practice—a journey into how working with clay can serve as a sanctuary for self-expression, mindfulness, and emotional healing. I'm Eleanor, a Licensed Professional Counselor, here to share my personal odyssey into pottery's profound impact on mental well-being.
Originally published: February 11, 2024 | Revised: June 2025
Finding Healing Through Pottery
In February 2023, on a whim, my husband and I attended a couple's pottery night, marking the start of my unexpected love affair with pottery. The result? Let's just say our creations were more abstract than artistic, but we had an absolute blast! And so, the pottery bug bit me—hard. What started as a fun night out became a personal journey of creativity, resilience, and healing—connecting me more deeply to my faith and reminding me of the power of embracing imperfection.
I dove into weekly classes to master the intricate techniques of “throwing” pottery, learning about the magic of Centering, Opening, Pulling, and Shaping on the wheel. As summer rolled around, I found myself enrolling in intensive courses, immersing myself further in the world of clay. Along the way, I began to notice that what I was learning at the pottery wheel was more than just a craft—it was a powerful metaphor for emotional healing. These creative practices didn’t just sharpen my pottery skills—they deepened my understanding of resilience, self-compassion, and how shame can hold us back from becoming who we’re called to be.
One evening during class, as we introduced ourselves, a fellow student shared, "I just do pottery, and that keeps me from needing a therapist!" Intrigued, I pondered her words and reflected on my own sense of well-being after a pottery session. It hit me: pottery, can offer lessons that overlap with therapy, teaching us to process emotions, confront shame, and grow stronger in faith and resilience.
Amelia Rabroker, the owner of Tap Tap Art Studios in Harker Heights, Texas admits, “Pottery turned into my therapy.”
Our ‘Love Pottery’ that my husband and I created at the Valentine’s Pottery Class on February 11, 2023!
So here we are, on the brink of a series where I spill the clay, so to speak, on how pottery can be a powerhouse for healing. Join me on this adventure, and let's uncover the incredible healing power of pottery together!
The Power of Creative Practices in Mental Health
Now that we've dipped our fingers into the world of pottery, let's explore why creative practices in general can be such a powerful key to mental well-being. According to the American Art Therapy Association, the creative process involved in making art is a dynamic tool for improving mental and emotional health. Although I don’t offer formal art therapy, I believe that creativity—like working with clay—can help us explore difficult emotions and find healing. Think about the last time you felt a swirl of emotions—maybe anger, sadness, or shame—and struggled to find the right words. Creative practices can serve as a bridge for individuals to convey feelings that words cannot capture, providing relief from depression, anxiety, and shame. As a trauma therapist and childhood trauma survivor/thriver, I know full well the damaging effects of shame, and I have written many blogs about it. The beauty of creative work lies not only in the creation itself but in the process—a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and healing that often deepens our faith and sense of purpose.
The Shame Quiz
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Take this free quiz—it might surprise you!
Exploring Pottery
My journey into pottery as a form of therapy began unexpectedly and transformed into a significant part of my own healing process. While I do not offer formal pottery therapy, the lessons I learned at the pottery wheel have enriched my work as a therapist and deepened my faith. Mastering the pottery wheel and understanding the therapeutic nature of clay led me to discover pottery as more than a hobby but as a powerful tool for self-discovery, resilience, and emotional healing.
The Healing Lessons of Pottery
Pottery stands out for its sensory experience. The tactile engagement with clay provides a unique way to connect with and express emotions, transcending the limitations of words. It's a metaphorical dance with the clay, mirroring personal growth and transformation.
This creative practice goes beyond traditional methods, grounding individuals in the present and enabling a tangible interaction with their emotions. While I do not offer formal pottery therapy, I’ve found that working with clay personally has helped reduce stress, increase mindfulness, and contribute to my own overall well-being. Pottery aligns with “whole-person” healing, focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. It invites us to engage fully in the creative process, promoting a balanced approach to mental health challenges. Research shows that holistic methods, integrating physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects, are effective.
Amelia shares, “‘Its [pottery] really is one of the few things that really is mind, body, soul. Because it's coming from your physical fingertips and one of the things…. If I have any bit of anxiety, frustration, I do flops all day long. These aren't organic little beauties that come out, no, they're just straight flops. It's because that energy in your body shows up in the actual form.” This underscores pottery's role as a holistic tool, not just for creating art but for crafting a balanced self.
Pottery and the Shame Cycle
Picture this: the soothing sensation of clay between your fingers, a quiet moment where the world fades away, and it's just you and your creation. This intimate dance with pottery is more than just an art form; it's a kind of silent conversation with the self, where words are not needed.
Imagine the clay as a trusted friend, one that listens without judgment as you pour your feelings into each mold and shape. For me, this process has been a beautiful journey of letting go, where every touch can help soften the harsh whispers of self-criticism and shame. The act of creating something from a lump of clay is incredibly grounding, bringing you back to the present and away from the burdens of the past.
The beauty of pottery lies in its invitation to embrace imperfections. Those little cracks and quirks? They tell a story, your story, reminding us that beauty thrives in flaws and that it's okay to be a work in progress. By me in my office is one of the pieces from our very first pottery class as a stark reminder that I don’t have to be perfect, I am a work in progress. This lesson ties deeply into the therapy process and faith journey: it’s a powerful reminder that our scars make us uniquely beautiful, and that grace can be found even in broken places.
And when you hold your finished piece, something magical happens. There's a spark of pride, a whisper of "I made this," which can be incredibly affirming. It's a tangible reminder of your strength, creativity, and ability to transform feelings of shame into something meaningful and beautiful, a reminder that healing and faith can grow through even the most vulnerable experiences.
So, in the heartwarming journey of pottery, we find a path to healing. It's not just about making art; it's about remaking ourselves, piece by piece, into the best version of who we can be.
Closing Thoughts
As we wrap up our journey into the heartwarming embrace of pottery, remember: working with clay is more than crafting with your hands—it’s about crafting your own pathways to healing. This exploration is just the beginning of uncovering the profound impact creativity has on our well-being.
My journey into recognizing pottery's emotional benefits is just one facet of a broader exploration into how we can integrate various healing modalities—be it through art, faith, psychology, or a combination thereof—to support our journey towards wholeness.
Please note: While I integrate creative practices into therapy, I do not offer formal art therapy or pottery therapy. The insights shared here are drawn from my personal experiences with pottery and my work as a licensed professional counselor.
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