Why Cultural Perspectives Matter in Expressive Therapies: Integrating Traditional and Indigenous Art Forms

Expressive therapies—such as art therapy, music therapy, dance and movement therapy—are powerful tools for healing, communication, and emotional growth. These approaches use creative activities to support psychological and emotional well-being in ways that often reach deeper than words. As our world becomes more culturally interconnected, it’s increasingly important for therapists to consider the cultural background of each person they work with. That includes recognizing and respectfully integrating traditional and indigenous art forms into the therapeutic space.

This article explores why cross-cultural awareness matters in expressive therapies, how traditional practices can strengthen therapeutic outcomes, and what therapists need to consider when bringing these approaches into their work.

How Culture Shapes Expression and Healing

Culture plays a central role in how people understand the world, express emotion, and experience healing. In expressive therapies, the meanings behind creative acts—symbols, gestures, colors, rhythms—often come from a person’s cultural background. A drawing or a rhythm may hold personal or communal meaning that a therapist needs to understand to respond effectively.

Being culturally sensitive in therapy means more than just knowing a client’s background. It involves actively integrating cultural elements into the process, when appropriate, and letting those elements guide how healing happens. This doesn’t just show respect—it also makes therapy more relevant, more personal, and more likely to succeed.

For example, a client from an indigenous community might connect more deeply to a traditional art technique or ceremonial rhythm than to a typical Western art method. When these familiar cultural forms are welcomed into therapy, it can create a sense of safety, belonging, and trust.

Benefits of Culturally Inclusive Expressive Therapies

1. Greater Engagement and Trust

When clients recognize their own cultural values in the therapy process, they often feel more comfortable and more willing to participate. Using familiar sounds, stories, or materials—like traditional music or imagery—can help clients feel seen and understood. This is especially important for people from communities that have been marginalized or misunderstood by mainstream systems.

2. Support for Cultural Identity

Many people face pressures to adapt or disconnect from their cultural roots, especially in contexts of migration, colonization, or social exclusion. Bringing traditional or indigenous practices into therapy can help reconnect clients with their identity. It affirms that their culture matters—not just as a background detail, but as something with strength and value.

This process of cultural validation can help people rebuild a stronger sense of self, which is often a key goal in therapy.

3. Whole-Person Healing

In many traditional and indigenous systems, healing is not just about the mind—it includes the body, the spirit, and the community. These holistic approaches see health as a balance between many aspects of life.

By drawing from these perspectives, expressive therapies can go beyond symptom treatment and speak to a person’s whole experience. For example, rituals, music, and visual symbols may carry spiritual meaning or connect to ancestors and communal memory. These dimensions can make therapy more meaningful and lasting.

Examples of Cultural Integration in Practice

Art Therapy

In visual arts-based therapy, traditional and indigenous forms of art offer powerful tools for expression and connection. Techniques like Aboriginal dot painting, Native American sand painting, or Tibetan mandalas are not just visually rich—they also carry stories, symbols, and values passed down over generations.

Incorporating these practices (with respect and care) allows clients to work through emotional experiences while drawing strength from cultural memory and ancestral identity.

Music Therapy

Many musical traditions carry emotional, spiritual, and communal meaning. Using these forms—such as West African drumming, Native American flute, or Indian ragas—in therapy can unlock emotional depth and resonance that a more generic musical style might not.

Clients may associate these sounds with home, family, or important life experiences, making the therapeutic work more grounded and alive.

Dance and Movement Therapy

Dance often tells stories that can’t be put into words. In many cultures, movement is linked to history, belief systems, and group identity. For example, Hula in Hawaii, Bharatanatyam in India, or traditional West African dances are not just performances—they’re practices that hold meaning for individuals and communities.

When clients are invited to move in ways that feel familiar or culturally significant, therapy can help them reconnect to their bodies and to a deeper sense of self.

Things to Keep in Mind

Bringing cultural elements into therapy can be powerful—but it also requires thoughtfulness and humility. Therapists should be careful not to take cultural practices out of context or use them in ways that feel disrespectful or superficial. This is especially important with indigenous or sacred traditions, which may carry specific meanings and boundaries.

Working with cultural advisors, elders, or community members can help ensure that practices are used appropriately and with permission. It’s also essential to talk openly with clients about what feels right for them—and to let them guide how their culture is represented in therapy.

Cultural understanding is not a one-time achievement. It’s an ongoing process of listening, learning, and adapting.

Conclusion

Bringing cross-cultural perspectives into expressive therapies isn’t just about being inclusive—it’s about making therapy more meaningful and more effective for the people it serves. Traditional and indigenous art forms offer deep, embodied ways to express emotion, reconnect with identity, and heal across generations.

As the field of expressive therapy continues to grow, therapists who embrace cultural diversity are helping to build practices that reflect the real richness of human experience. By honoring the traditions that shape each person’s world, we make space for deeper connection, creativity, and healing.

References

• Multicultural Competencies in Art Therapy. (n.d.).

• Using Art Therapy with Diverse Populations: Crossing Cultures and Abilities. (n.d.).

• Expressive Therapies: Cultural Awareness and Art. (n.d.).

• What is Music, Health and Wellbeing, and Why is it Important? (n.d.).