Honoring Harriet Wadeson: A Pioneer in Art Therapy and Early Integrator of PAIRS Emotional Tools


Long before the rise of somatic art on social media or mainstream wellness platforms, one of the most respected figures in the field of art therapy was quietly exploring its deeper potential — not only for individual expression but for emotional healing within relationships. That pioneer was Dr. Harriet Claire Wadeson, Ph.D., LCSW, ATR-BC, HLM, whose legacy continues to shape how art is used for profound psychological transformation.

In the early 1990s, Wadeson began integrating PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) into her art therapy work. She discovered that clients who used expressive, body-based art in combination with PAIRS tools like the Emotional Jug, Daily Temperature Reading, and Anger Rituals experienced a deeper emotional release — followed by clearer, more meaningful communication with partners, family members, and support networks.

“When clients created art from their Jug or visually portrayed their unspoken concerns, the canvas became a bridge — not just to healing, but to honest connection. PAIRS gave them the words. Art gave them permission to feel.”
– Harriet Wadeson, Workshop Reflections, c. 1994

This integrative approach wasn’t just intuitive — it was rooted in Wadeson’s lifelong commitment to experiential learning, body-based awareness, and relational healing.




Who Was Harriet Wadeson?

Harriet Wadeson (1931-2016) was more than an art therapist — she was a global leader, scholar, and educator who helped establish the field as we know it today. Her impact includes:

  • Director of the University of Illinois Chicago’s Art Therapy Graduate Program for 23 years
  • Founder of the UIC Summer Art Therapy Institute, serving professionals nationwide
  • Creator of the Northwestern University Art Therapy Certificate Program, which she led for nearly a decade
  • 13 years conducting clinical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Author of eight seminal books and over 70 articles in professional journals
  • Lecturer, workshop leader, and guest faculty in 14 countries
  • Honorary Life Member of the American Art Therapy Association, recipient of a Smithsonian First Prize in Art, and honoree of numerous academic and legislative awards

Wadeson’s approach was always deeply human. She often spoke about her own art-making as a tool for navigating illness and mortality, and she remained committed to empowering survivors of trauma through creative self-expression.

Her alignment with PAIRS reflected her belief that healing is not just about processing emotion, but reconnecting with others through emotional honesty, empathy, and courage.


Her Legacy Today

The early work Harriet Wadeson did to blend PAIRS emotional literacy tools with expressive, body-based art therapy laid the foundation for what’s now emerging as a movement: somatic art for relational healing.

Today, whether someone is scribbling anger across a canvas, painting their daily wishes, or using collage to express grief, the structure PAIRS offers makes that experience not only expressive — but transformative.

Her vision lives on in every person who dares to create from feeling, confide from truth, and love more bravely because they’ve been given tools that speak to both the heart and the body.


When Words Aren’t Enough,

Your Body Still Knows

Somatic art is a body-based approach to emotional expression. It involves painting, drawing, scribbling, sculpting—or even tearing, smearing, and building—as a way of moving feelings that may be stuck or unspoken.


It’s about:



  • Releasing tension through movement
  • Accessing feelings stored in the body
  • Creating a safe, nonverbal outlet for self-expression


Deepening self-awareness and emotional resilience


In moments of stress, sadness, anger, or grief, many of us struggle to find the right words. We shut down, explode, or carry emotional pain in silence. But what if your body could speak for you?


Somatic art—the practice of using creative expression to move emotions through the body—is gaining widespread attention for good reason. It’s not about creating something “beautiful.” It’s about creating something honest.


At the PAIRS Foundation, we believe in helping people love better, live more connected lives, and transform emotional pain into personal and relational breakthroughs. Now, through the integration of PAIRS tools and somatic art, we’re expanding what’s possible for healing, growth, and connection.

“I’ve used PAIRS tools for years in group settings, but bringing in somatic art took everything to a new level. When participants painted their Emotional Jug or sculpted their Volcano anger ritual, it unlocked expression in ways that words alone never could. The combination allows people to feel, move, and then speak their truth — all with greater safety and depth.”

“I’ve carried a lot of emotion I didn’t know how to name — let alone talk about. The first time I painted during a PAIRS session, I didn’t think it would matter. But halfway through, my hands were doing the talking. After that, I could finally say out loud what I’d been holding for years. PAIRS gave me the language. Art gave me the courage to begin.”

“We were stuck. Between work, parenting, and unspoken grief after a miscarriage, we barely recognized each other. The PAIRS DTR helped us start talking again, but it was the art that softened us. One night, we each painted our ‘wish’ from the Daily Temperature Reading — then swapped canvases. That one moment did more for our marriage than months of counseling ever did.”

Who It’s For



  • Individuals who feel “stuck” emotionally
  • Couples navigating high-stress seasons
  • Teens and adults with trauma histories
  • Caregivers, first responders, veterans
  • Anyone ready to feel more deeply—and heal more honestly

No art experience is required. Just the courage to begin.

Try It Yourself: A Simple Somatic Art + PAIRS Practice



  1. Choose a quiet space and a large sheet of paper or canvas
  2. Set a timer for 15 minutes
  3. Pick three colors that represent your current emotions
  4. Without overthinking, begin moving your hands across the surface
  5. When you feel complete, pause—and reflect using the Daily Temperature Reading:
  • What do you appreciate about yourself right now?
  • What new information emerged?
  • Any puzzles?
  • Any concerns and recommendations?
  • What are your hopes or wishes?

You can keep this as a private practice—or share it with a partner for deeper connection.

How PAIRS Tools Enhance the Somatic Art Experience

PAIRS brings structure, safety, and emotional language to what often begins as raw, wordless expression. Together, somatic art and PAIRS help people move from chaos to clarity, and from isolation to connection.


Integrating PAIRS into Somatic Art Practice:


Emptying the Emotional Jug (with Paint or Pastels)

Transform the classic PAIRS exercise into a visual ritual:

  • Express mad, sad, scared, and glad through color, form, and movement
  • Use your hands, brushes, or nontraditional tools
  • Witness the shift as emotions move through and out of the body



Daily Temperature Reading: A 5-Part Canvas

Bring the five parts of the DTR—Appreciations, New Info, Puzzles, Concerns, and Wishes—to life visually. Paint each section with intention, then reflect or confide with a partner.


Anger Rituals as Somatic Release

The PAIRS Volcano or Haircut anger rituals become physical art:

  • Sculpt, paint, or collage your “emotional volcano” and then destroy or transform it
  • Let the body express what words cannot—then restore and reconnect


Talking Tips Meets the Brush

Move through PAIRS Talking Tips sentence stems while painting or drawing. Each layer represents a deeper emotional truth.

When Therapy Might Be the Better Fit

Therapy is often the right choice when:

🔹 You’re dealing with trauma, abuse, addiction, or depression
🔹 You need a diagnosis or mental health treatment
🔹 You’re navigating severe anxiety or emotional dysregulation
🔹 You want ongoing, personalized support for complex issues

And here’s the good news: These aren’t either/or options.
Many people do both — and say PAIRS made their therapy more effective.

Bring PAIRS + Somatic Art to Your Family, Team or Organization

We’re now offering custom workshops, retreats, and trainings that blend somatic art with PAIRS emotional education. Perfect for:

  • Mental health and wellness programs
  • Couples intensives
  • Support groups and community healing
  • Schools, faith communities, and trauma-informed care teams


Free Consultation