What Happens in a Creative Arts Therapy Group?

If you've ever wondered what a therapy group actually looks like — or whether it might be a good fit for you or someone you love — you're not alone. Group therapy can feel like a big unknown. Here's what you can expect from a creative arts therapy group at The Sonatina Center.

It's therapy first, activity second.
Creative arts therapy groups are not art classes or music classes. The activities — making music, creating art, moving to rhythm — are the vehicles for therapeutic work. Everything a therapist chooses to do in a group is purposefully selected based on the therapeutic goals, strengths, and preferences of the people in the room. The activity serves the goal, not the other way around.

Every group is different — and that's the point.
Because our groups are goal-driven, no two sessions look exactly alike. A music therapist might bring in a familiar song one week and invite group members to write new lyrics the next. An art therapist might use collage to explore identity or watercolor to practice mindfulness. The modality shifts based on what the group needs. If a goal hasn't been met, a therapist may return to a similar activity — but the experience is never just repeated for the sake of repetition.

What happens in a session?
Most creative arts therapy groups follow a loose structure: an opening ritual to help everyone arrive and settle, a main therapeutic experience, and a closing reflection. Within that structure there's a lot of room for creativity, responsiveness, and connection. Groups typically run 45-60 minutes.

Who is it for?
Creative arts therapy groups can support people across a wide range of needs and experiences, including anxiety, ADHD, autism, grief, learning differences, communication disorders, traumatic brain injury, and chronic health conditions. Groups are often organized around shared experiences or goals so that participants can connect with others who understand what they're going through.

Tune Together: Music Group for Adults with Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities
One of our current groups is Tune Together — a music therapy group for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, running in both New Hampshire and Maryland. Led by a board-certified music therapist, Tune Together uses active music making to build confidence, self-esteem, and peer relationships, while supporting self-expression, anxiety management, and creativity.

If you're interested in learning more about Tune Together or any of our other groups, get in touch with us— we'd love to help you figure out if a group is the right fit.