Create Your Own Story: Using Magazine Collages in Art Therapy to Explore Narrative Healing

Creating meaningful connections through art can be a transformative experience, especially in a therapeutic context. One powerful method that art therapists often employ is the use of magazine collages. This enjoyable practice not only allows individuals to express their emotions visually but also plays a significant role in narrative therapy approaches. In this blog post, you will learn how art therapists utilize narrative healing through magazine collages.

What are Magazine Collages?

Magazine collages are visual compositions made by cutting out images, words, and patterns from magazines and assembling them into a new artwork. This technique is fun and an open-ended way to reflect on personal experiences and feelings.

When you engage in this art form, you explore themes that resonate with you. By selecting specific images and words, you curate a collection that tells your story, offering a personal lens to understand and articulate your journey. For example, someone might choose images of nature to reflect a desire for peace, while another might select bold colours and words to express their creativity and energy.

The Connection to Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy is built on the idea that our identities are shaped by the stories we tell about ourselves. It emphasizes the power of narrative as a healing tool. When you create magazine collages, you are essentially building a visual narrative, piecing together fragments of your experiences, feelings, and dreams.

This process provides a platform for exploration and re-authoring your story. For example, you might find an image of an open road that prompts memory of a life-changing trip. Such moments can reveal emotions or insights you weren't fully aware of, giving you a chance to reflect on your life. Engagement in narrative practices aid healing by increase self-awareness and emotional regulation. The act of creating can empower you to redefine your narrative, helping you look at your experiences from a fresh perspective.

Creating Magazine Collages in Session

Creating magazine collages in session usually follows these steps:

1. Gathering Materials: Collecting magazines, scissors, glue, and a canvas or piece of paper. Choose magazines that inspire you, whether they align with your interests or challenge your perspectives.

   
   

2. Setting Intentions: Before starting, I will ask you to think about what you want to explore. It could be a current emotion, a goal, or a specific experience. Setting an intention helps guide your selections and the direction of your collage.

   
   

3. Creating: Flip through your magazines and cut out anything that stands out to you. Don’t worry about making it perfect! Pick visuals and words that resonate with you, even if they seem unrelated at first.

   
   

   

   A collage made from magazine cutouts.

   
   

4. Assembling Your Collage: Once you’ve gathered your cut-outs, start arranging them. There’s no right or wrong way to do this—let your instincts guide you. Use glue or tape to secure the pieces in place.

   
   

5. Reflection: After finishing, take a moment to reflect on your collage. What emotions did it bring up? What story does it tell? I will help guide reflection by asking questions and indicating areas of interest in your collage.

   
   

   Depending on the needs of the client within the art therapy session, I occasionally offer a framework for which to gather magazine images. For children, those needing more direction, or those feeling stuck in creativity I provide a list of elements to seek out in the magazines. I ask the client to find items within the categories that speak to them personally, rather than just choosing the first image they come across. The categories I suggest are; a person, a building, a form of transportation, a plant, an animal, a food item, and a word. I encourage those clients needing more direction to find at least one item from each category to help guide their collage.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Using magazine collages in art therapy offers a unique opportunity for self-discovery and healing. By merging visual artistry with narrative therapy techniques, you can explore and redefine your story.

This creative practice is not just about cutting and pasting; it’s about piecing together a narrative that reflects who you are and who you hope to become. Within your art therapy session the intention and narrative process will be guided by your therapeutic goals, and by collaborating together on your healing journey we can utilize intention to achieve wellness.

A magazine collage created in art therapy