Texas Tech University

RISE Blog | Creative Expression for Survivors of Sexual Assault

Written By: Faith Dolan, Violence Prevention Committee Chair
Edited By: Giana Matheny
May 2nd, 2025

Content Warning: This blog discusses topics and scenarios related to sexual assault and trauma. The content may cause distress for some readers. Please take care of yourself and seek support if needed. If you need extra support, please scroll to the end of the blog to see a list of local and national resources.

A Tool for Healing

"Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males have experienced rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation” (RAINN, n.d). During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, it is extremely important that our campus recognizes the weight of these statistics and comes together to provide support to survivors. These realities are heavy and heartbreaking, but it is also important for us to acknowledge that there is always hope for survivors. There are several ways to promote healing, including creative expression. Creativity is accessible to everyone because it does not require spending money or leaving your home! As we discuss the role of creative expression in healing, we acknowledge that this is not a replacement for therapeutic intervention. Instead, it is one of the several possible coping mechanisms that you can use on your healing journey. By learning about the power of creative expression and the different ways to incorporate creativity into our lives, survivors of sexual assault can find comfort, healing, and ways to cope with trauma.

Benefits of Creativity

Trauma survivors may feel like their lives are impacted at many levels. Some may find that they have a harder time with schoolwork or asking their friends for support, while others may find that they have a more difficult time with sleep or nutrition. Thankfully, when utilizing creative expression as a coping mechanism, survivors may find that there are several emotional, psychological, physical, and social benefits. Let’s look at each of these benefits together.

    • Psychological: Survivors often find that they struggle with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. When used as a coping mechanism, creative expression can help alleviate anxiety, stress, and depression. If a survivor works with a licensed therapist to utilize art therapy, they may find that they are able to process their trauma and work through the emotions and physiological responses associated with the traumatic event.
    • Cognitive: Doing activities like creating art, scrapbooking, making playlists, or writing poetry helps the brain form new connections that promote healing from trauma. It can also help with memory and higher-level thinking.
    • Emotional: Creative expression is a fantastic way to help you recognize, name, and feel your emotions. Often, with the busyness of everyday life, our emotional responses can feel muddy or blurry. However, when you take the time to write how you feel or create an art piece about a certain emotion, you can allow yourself to become more comfortable and familiar with your emotions.
    • Physical: Since stress is a psychological and physiological response, creativity can help reduce your body’s stress reactions and promote relaxation.
    • Social: It is not uncommon for survivors to struggle with loneliness and isolation. Studies show that art can help build community and improve communication and empathy for others.

(Delta Psychology, 2025)

Trauma can make us feel alone, and like we will never get through it. However, by allowing ourselves to express how we feel creatively, we can become more grounded in our emotions, feel less overwhelmed, and feel more capable of healing.

Types of Creative Outlets

Many people may believe that you need to be a talented artist to benefit from creative expression. However, there are several different ways to be creative. Everyone can find a form of creative expression that works best for them and their lives. It is also important to know that creativity doesn’t have to cost money or require a lot of your time! There are many ways that you can incorporate different activities into your life without needing to sacrifice anything.

Different creative outlets:

    • Journaling: You can use an old notebook or even the notes app on your phone! Try searching online for different journal prompts to help you get started. If you are feeling extra fancy, decorate your pages with stickers, drawings, or decorative tape! 
    • Painting/drawing: If you have some paint, paper, and pencils lying around, don’t be afraid to get your hands messy! You can try sketching something simple or finger painting something abstract. If you are an experienced artist, try using this as an opportunity to create something from your heart!
    • Scrapbooking: If you want to document your college years, print out a few pictures and pick up a scrapbook in your favorite color! Try writing about your favorite memories on slips of paper or doodling fun designs.
    • Collaging: This is a great option if you have access to old magazines or newspapers! If you don’t have the energy to create a physical collage, consider using Pinterest’s collage feature! It is free to use and a great way to practice creativity when you only want to scroll on your phone.
    • Listening to or creating music: If you are a musician, try creating a new piece or practicing some improv! If you are an avid music listener, try making a playlist based on a certain mood, emotion, or color.
    • Dancing: Dancing alone in your room is a great way to integrate creativity and joyful movement into your healing. Try listening to your favorite upbeat song or creating your own dance routine. It’s okay if you feel silly; remember that no one is watching!
    • Yoga: Yoga can help you center your body, focus on your breathing, and create a space that feels comfortable for you. You can attend a class in Lubbock and practice creativity by deciding how long to hold a pose or how far to stretch your body! You may even 
      practice a variation of the pose the teacher is doing. If you decide to do yoga at home, feel free to watch a video or create your own routine!
    • Creative writing: Creating your own characters, setting, and plot can do wonders for healing. You can create a short story with a quick resolution or even a longer work with several chapters!
    • Photography: Take out your phone and take pictures of things that bring you joy or depict a certain emotion! You may admire how a tree looks on your way to class or how your pet is curled up while they are sleeping. If you have a professional camera, try asking a friend to dress up and pose for you!

(UNIKO Media Group, 2024); (Alexandra, 2025); (RAINN, 2023).

There are so many ways to incorporate creative expression into our lives. Whether it is listening to your favorite artist, doodling during class, or dancing with your friends, it is always possible to find activities that align with you and your healing journey.

Progress, not perfection

When it comes to creative endeavors, there can be an overwhelming urge to create something perfect. Our society often views art through a lens of competition, perfection, and material value. However, the beauty of creativity is that it is the journey, not the outcome of the experience, that provides comfort.

When practicing creativity, try reminding yourself that you are creating for yourself and not others. Give yourself permission to just “be.” Even therapists who administer art therapy stress that art therapy is not about creating masterpieces. Instead, the healing lies in the “process, the act of making, the emotions it stirs, and the stories our images tell us” (Greyzone Wellness, 2025).

At RISE, our yearly event, Exhale, creates an opportunity for survivors to share the art they create. When we display a gallery of their art and demonstrate their experiences, emotions, and stories, artistic talent and level of expertise are insignificant. This sacred space emphasizes the power of sharing our stories without attempting perfection. When you utilize creative expression, remind yourself that you are not being graded and that it is okay to create something raw, authentic, and true to you. Like healing, art can be messy and imperfect. However, when we allow ourselves to create something just for the sake of enjoying it, then we are telling our mind and body that we are okay with who we are in this current moment.

In Conclusion

Survivorship comes with several ups, downs, and uncertainties. However, we can find hope and healing by giving ourselves creative freedom and expression. Creativity can help our mind, body, and soul in numerous ways, and there are several different modes of creativity that we can adapt to our own interests and needs. Even though it may feel like we should only do activities we are skilled in, we should do what interests and excites us. Remember, the beauty of creativity lies in expression, not perfection!

The path to healing looks different for everyone, but there is hope in knowing that we only need to take it one painting, drawing, dance, playlist, story, or photo at a time.

Resources

References

Alexandra, E. (2025). Healing Through Creativity: Art, Writing & Music for CSA Survivors. The Gatehouse. 

Delta Psychology. (2025). The Benefits of Including Art Therapy in your Everyday Life. 

Lee, J., Dhauna, J., Silvers, J. A., Houston, M. H., & Barnert, E. S. (2022). Therapeutic Dance for the Healing of Sexual Trauma: A Systematic Review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 24(4), 2143–2164.  

RAINN. (2023). Self-care: Creative Outlets for Survivors of Sexual Violence. 

RAINN. (n.d.). Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics. 

Rak, S. (2025). Beyond Perfection: The Power of Art Therapy. Grey Zone: Montreal DBT therapy.

UNIKO Media Group. (2024). Creative Outlets for Emotional Release and Healing. DVAP Riverside.

 

Back to All Posts 

Risk Intervention & Safety Education

© 2025  Texas Tech University May 2, 2025 12:51 PM