Coming Out Through Art: How Art Therapy Supports LGBTQIA2S+ Journeys
- Hannah Muller, ATR-BC, LPC
- Sep 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 18
Coming out is not just a moment, in fact it is a deeply personal journey. For many folks that identify as part of the queer community, that journey involves navigating identity, fear, vulnerability, and, ultimately, self-acceptance. But what if there was a way to express all of that without saying a word?
That’s where art therapy comes in.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy utilizes creative processes and artwork to aid in facilitating therapeutic healing. As a modality, it can help improve the mental health of client populations of all ages, backgrounds, and diagnoses. With the use of art therapy, there is no need to use words, often there are both physical and emotional releases experienced, and creative processes activate the whole brain. Through art therapy, clients can oftentimes more easily access and process stuck emotions and memories, as it is not uncommon for people to not have words for the emotions or memories they experience. Additionally, art therapy can be less intimidating than talk therapy.
Living Through Intense Times
We are currently experiencing a period marked by significant change, uncertainty, and social tension. Throughout the history of the United States, LGBTQ+ individuals have faced systemic discrimination upheld or reinforced by governmental policies and institutions. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community are feeling the impact of recent anti-gay and anti-trans legislation and rhetoric, with some experiencing heightened levels of stress, emotional strain and trauma. These circumstances continue to underscore the importance of awareness, support, and efforts toward equity and inclusion.
Often, traumatic experiences feel unspeakable. Many nonverbal behaviors are unconscious and may represent a more accurate depiction of a client's attitude and emotional state. For most people, memories of past events are often represented in our mind by visual images, not words. A strength of art therapy is that it facilitates the client’s ability to express themselves using metaphors and symbolism. Art therapy can present as a non-threatening approach to exploring painful emotions, assists with emotional regulation, reduces hyperarousal, and assists in self-exploration and identity development through personal, creative expression.
In their insightful article "Coming Out Through Art: A Review of Art Therapy with LGBT Clients", researchers Laura M. Pelton-Sweet and Alissa Sherry explore how creative expression can help queer individuals during one of the most emotionally intense periods of their lives, the coming out process (Pelton-Sweet & Sherry, 2008).
Why Coming Out Can Be So Challenging
Coming out is not just a social statement. It often brings emotional and physical challenges such as anxiety, isolation, family rejection, or the pressure to hide one’s true self. Pelton-Sweet and Sherry (2008) point out that during this phase, many individuals experience a dip in well-being.
Art therapy can be a powerful outlet during this time, as it’s not just talk therapy, but something visual and expressive.
Art as a Container for Safety
Art therapy provides a space where LGBT+ identifying clients can explore their identities without fear or judgment. Through painting, drawing, collage, and other forms of creative expression, people are able to give form to feelings they might not be ready to articulate verbally.
This kind of therapy taps into something powerful: creativity as liberation.
Pelton-Sweet and Sherry (2008) highlight how art helps clients build self-awareness, process internalized stigma, and reconnect with their own narratives in affirming ways. In my own work with clients, I have had the privilege of witnessing this first-hand. I have not only seen the ways that art assists with identity expression, but I have also watched how conveying lived experiences through art have felt both validating and empowering for my clients.
Creating Identity Through Creativity
Pelton-Sweet and Sherry (2008) describe how art can support the integration of sexual identity into a person’s larger sense of self. For many LGBT individuals, art therapy becomes a way to reclaim and reframe their story—to move from silence to visibility in a way that feels safe.
Some prompts I have utilized in the past to assist my clients in engaging in deeper self-understanding include:
● inside/outside mask making to explore inner and outer worlds
● gender and sexuality journey maps
● pride flags as self-reflections of pride and authenticity, and more.
Art therapy offers a canvas; not just for creativity, but for courage.
Where Perez Therapy Comes In
The CEO of Perez Therapy LLC, Felix Perez, LCSW, established his company with the intention to provide equitable mental health services, specifically to queer and trans individuals, and people of color. Recognizing the systemic barriers and stigmas that often prevent marginalized communities from accessing culturally responsive care, Perez Therapy was created as a safer, affirming space where clients can explore their identities, heal from trauma, and build resilience. The practice integrates evidence-based modalities with creative, client-centered approaches, such as art therapy, to meet the unique needs of each individual. By centering queer and trans experiences, and embracing intersections of identity, Perez Therapy not only addresses mental health but also fosters empowerment, self-expression, and community connection. Through this work, Felix Perez and his team are helping to redefine what inclusive, transformative care can look like.
The Importance of Support
It is more important now than ever to recognize and validate the challenges queer folks are facing. In addition to mental health counseling and art therapy through Perez Therapy LLC, here are some national and local supportive resources available to LGBT+ individuals:
The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org
OutCare Health: https://www.outcarehealth.org
Attic Youth Center: https://atticyouthcenter.org
Mazzoni Center: https://www.mazzonicenter.org
Whether you're just beginning to explore your gender and/or sexual identity or have been out for years, expressive arts therapy offers a powerful and affirming space to connect with emotions that may be difficult to articulate. By engaging with creative expression, you can access deeper layers of self-understanding and healing. Your journey is uniquely your own, and art can serve as a vital tool in shaping and sharing your own authentic, self-empowered narrative.
Resources
Pelton-Sweet, L. M., & Sherry, A. (2008). Coming out through art: A review of art therapy with LGBT clients. Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 25(4), 170–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2008.10129546