Sparkling insights: Using gemstones to enhance creative therapy

In creative psychotherapy, we often use metaphors, imagery and symbolic tools to help the client access a deeper layer of their psyche. One of the tools I use frequently in my work is the use of crystals and semi-precious gemstones – an ancient yet relevant tool in modern-day therapeutic work. 

These naturally occurring crystals have long been revered for their aesthetic and cultural significance, which can often help with the therapeutic process. In many cultures, both ancient and modern, these gemstones have also been used as a healing modality.

In this article, I hope to open up avenues of creative exploration in your therapeutic work. I will explore how gemstones can be integrated into creative psychotherapy to enhance clients’ engagement, help with emotional expressions and bring forth inner reflections.

A symbolic language of healing

Humans have had an evolutionary process of being drawn to symbolic language – consider prehistoric times, where symbols were drawn in caves or ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics as a way to communicate. In psychotherapy, symbols can act as bridges between the conscious and unconscious mind (Jung, 1964).

Gemstones, with their colour, texture and cultural or spiritual association, serve as a physical metaphor that resonates with the emotional experiences of the client. I have found that using gemstones can help to gently anchor the client’s attention. For instance, a client may hold a rose quartz when discussing their vulnerability, which may help to support self-compassion and provide a soothing sensory experience.

Each gemstone carries with it layers of meaning – some historical, some cultural, some intuitive. While the scientific evidence for the energetic “properties” of crystals remains inconclusive (Smith, 2019), their subjective value in therapy lies in how they are used symbolically and relationally within the therapeutic encounter. However, the use of gemstones in crystal therapy has helped to engage clients in focusing on their well-being.

Using gemstones to enhance client engagement

Many clients, especially those who are new to therapy or hesitant to explore emotions verbally, benefit from the grounding presence of physical objects. Gemstones can act as:

• An introduction to therapeutic needs – Clients choose a stone that “represents how I feel today” or “what I need from this session”.
• Transitional objects – A small crystal carried between sessions may help maintain therapeutic continuity.
• Anchors in creative processes – Used alongside art, story-making or movement, they support embodied reflection and meaning-making.
• Representations – Used within individual sessions, gemstones can be used to represent people or emotions to help the client display how they are experiencing their world.

This is particularly effective in creative psychotherapy, which often draws from expressive modalities such as art therapy, sand tray work, and guided imagery (Malchiodi, 2013). The multi-sensory appeal of gemstones offers clients a playful, non-threatening point of entry into deeper emotional work.

Working with intention and attunement

The value lies in the meaning the client makes in relationship to the object, and the therapist’s attunement to that process.

For example, a client may associate amethyst with safety and calm, based on a personal memory or cultural background. In such cases, the therapist honours the client’s experience, using the stone as a springboard for therapeutic exploration.

The applications of gemstones in the therapy room

Here are some creative ways gemstones can be used within psychotherapy:

1. Stone selection ritual

At the start of the session, the client selects a stone from a small collection. They might be invited to notice its qualities and link them to a feeling or theme. This can help externalise internal states. Again, this gives way to meaning-making in the session with the client.

2. Deepening the creative work

Clients can draw, paint, or write about the chosen stone. What does it symbolise? What message might it hold? Perhaps the gemstone can be used in a meditation?

3. Narrative work

In storytelling techniques, stones can represent characters, inner parts, or aspects of the self, similar to internal family systems or family constellation work.

4. Somatic awareness

Holding a stone during grounding or mindfulness practices can help some clients feel more centred in their bodies.

These small but meaningful interventions can empower clients to engage more fully in their therapy, especially when traditional verbal dialogue feels limited or overwhelming.

Gemstones may not be magical cures – but in the hands of a thoughtful therapist and an open-hearted client, they become shining symbols of what matters most: healing, reflection, and connection. When introduced with sensitivity, playfulness and respect, these age-old stones can offer modern-day clients a tactile, creative way to access their inner world.

References

• Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and His Symbols. London: Aldus Books.
• Malchiodi, C. A. (2013). The Art Therapy Sourcebook. McGraw-Hill Education.
• Smith, J. (2019). “Crystals and Complementary Therapies: Evaluating the Evidence.” British Journal of General Practice, 69(683), 456–457.
• Moon, C. H. (2002). Studio Art Therapy: Cultivating the Artist Identity in the Art Therapist. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
• Rogers, N. (1993). The Creative Connection: Expressive Arts as Healing. Science & Behaviour Books.