By: Lorelis Ploche, ATR-BC, RCMHI
In therapy, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to fix behaviors. But sometimes, what looks like defiance is really a survival mechanism, a communication of unmet needs. Art therapy shifts this lens—transforming behavior into expression, pathology into purpose.
In the therapy world, there’s an unspoken pressure to fix things. Clients come with a need for healing, often tangled in behaviors that interfere with their relationships, daily activities, and self-image. In these moments, a clinician’s instinct is to lean into our training: we reflect, support, confront, and guide our clients through an internal process. We work to identify the origin of distress and, with care, try to ease it. It’s commendable—and often necessary. But sometimes, our inclination to “fix things” can overshadow something deeper and more human: the client’s underlying need.
Through my own training in art therapy, mental health, and applied behavior analysis (ABA), it has become apparent that not every behavior is a problem to be eradicated. All behaviors have functions that serve to tend to a specific void that the individual is experiencing. In other words, some behaviors are adaptations—misunderstood expressions of unmet needs. When we approach therapy solely through the lens of fixing the surface behaviors, we may unintentionally pathologize a survival mechanism or silence an emotional need. This is where art therapy offers a transformative shift in perspective, not just in therapy, but the human experience as a whole.
The Power of Channeling in Art Therapy
Art therapy does not aim to fix behaviors in the traditional sense. It invites clients to channel their internal experiences into creative expression. When a client creates, they are not being corrected—they are being witnessed. The art therapy session becomes a container for the client artist, where feelings, behaviors, and unmet needs can be explored safely, without being dissected or judged.
In this space, even the most “maladaptive” behaviors can reveal themselves as messages of something deeper. When externalized through the art-making process, both therapists and clients alike can see these behavioral patterns more clearly—and with greater compassion. They begin to connect the dots between how the behavior correlates with what the client needs.
Channeling behavior into art offers an opportunity for clients to shift their energy from impulsive reactions to intentional creations with profound self-reflection. It honors the function of the behavior while also offering an alternative that is healing, expressive, and productive.
Meet Malik: A Child’s Creative Journey to Self-Discovery
Malik is a 10-year-old client with repeated disruptive behaviors in school. He is frequently in trouble for talking out of turn, making loud jokes during lessons, and wandering around the classroom. His teachers describe him as “attention-seeking” and “unfocused.” At home, similar themes have emerged: conflict with siblings, arguments with caregivers, and persistent boredom. In addition, Malik’s parents have recently separated and his siblings are both 7 years older than him. With the persistent difficulty in school, the recent separation, and hardships connecting with his older siblings, Malik’s behaviors have increased significantly in the last few months. This has urged his parents to take action and seek support through therapy.
In our early sessions, Malik appeared guarded and often shrugged when asked to reflect on his behavior. Traditional talk therapy was not ideal for him —his words were few, but his energy was high. So, we shifted gears and entered the creative process.
During one open-ended art therapy session, Malik was offered a range of materials. After carefully selecting his tools, Malik expressed an interest in learning how to draw his favorite animated characters. We spent the session learning how to draw Spiderman. The process of following this multi-step directive invited Malik to slow down and remain in control as he worked tediously on a drawing he grew proud of. This session marked a shift for Malik, as he learned that he not only could draw these characters, but could connect to them. Each week, Malik then came into session with a new character that he wanted to draw. Not only were his graphic skills improving, but he was able to hone in on his impulse control, follow through with a project that peaked his interests, and engage in self-reflection as he made connections with the characters. After several weeks of drawing characters, Malik decided to cut them and place them on a large poster board. Each character was carefully positioned and glued very close together, despite the vast space that was on the board. When asked about why his characters were positioned in this way, he explained “they need to be close together. They are a family and families stay together.”
This moment opened the door to a deeper understanding. Malik’s disruptions weren’t merely about defiance—they were attempts at connection. His “attention-seeking” behavior was, in fact, a need for community—a hunger to belong, be seen, and be part of something.
We continued to explore this theme through group art projects and collaborative storyboards, where Malik thrived. He started initiating group ideas, inviting peers to join in, and even showed pride in supporting others’ creative visions, all while reflecting on his own family dynamics in our individual sessions. His teachers began to notice a shift: Malik was more engaged, more cooperative, and less disruptive. Not because the behavior was “fixed,” but because the need behind the behavior was channeled in a healthy, meaningful way.
Reframing the Role of the Therapist
What would shift if you saw behavior not as defiance, but as a request for connection? How might you channel instead of correct in your own practice—or even in your parenting?
When we stop asking, “How can I fix this?” and instead ask, “What is the underlying need?” we transform our therapeutic presence. In art therapy, we act less as mechanics and more as facilitators—guiding clients to explore the wisdom beneath their behaviors.
Fixing is sometimes necessary. But channeling builds resilience. It teaches clients that their emotions, needs, and impulses aren’t shameful—they’re signals. And when given a creative outlet, those signals can become stories, symbols, and ultimately, strengths.
As therapists, especially art therapists, we are not in the business of repairing brokenness. We are in the business of revealing purpose. By channeling behavior instead of trying to eliminate it, we give clients the tools to understand and express themselves authentically—and that is often more powerful than any “fix.”
At Cadenza Center, all of our clinicians embrace this channeling approach. We believe children and adults aren’t problems to fix, but people with stories to express. If you’d like to learn more about our programs, follow us for future posts on therapy that goes beyond fixing—and into purpose.
