Written by Amanda Lee

Senior Lauren Yu started going to the Wellness Center last semester to relax and use the coloring books. Now, she goes regularly throughout the week. “It helps take your mind off of whatever is bothering you while also helping you to create something,” she said.

Yu believes that coloring is not only a good stress-relieving activity, but also a rewarding one. “I feel like coloring creates a balance, because it’s a mixture of really repetitive mechanical motion that you don’t have to think too much about, but at the same time, you choose the colors thoughtfully, and you have to be careful and you have to think about it as well,” Yu said. “It’s a creative way, rather than destructive, to express what you’re feeling and alleviate anxiety.”

Yu advises people seeking to try art therapy for the first time to relax and not worry about making mistakes. “If you get caught up in the perfection too much, then you won’t really get the full value of coloring a piece,” she said.