FROM TRAUMA TO ART: Can tattoos help people?

Mehak Walia in conversation with Shreya Kaul, a counselling psychologist, and Narrative Therapy Practitioner along with talented and experienced tattoo artists, Tushar Nath, Mannat Sood, and Karan Singh.

Tattoos have long been recognized as a form of self-expression and artistry, but their potential therapeutic benefits are now garnering increasing attention. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, tattoos are being explored as a means to help people cope with and heal from traumatic experiences. The act of transforming pain into permanent art on the body has proven to be a powerful process for individuals seeking emotional release and personal transformation. In this article, we delve into the growing phenomenon of therapeutic tattoos and explore their potential to assist in the healing journey. Tattoos can aid in healing by enabling individuals to reclaim their narratives. Traumatic experiences often leave emotional scars that can be difficult to overcome. By choosing to have those scars etched into their skin as symbols of strength, resilience, or growth, individuals regain control over their stories. Tattoos provide a tangible representation of personal journeys, allowing individuals to create a narrative that helps them make sense of their experiences and find empowerment.

But, do tattoos have psychological advantages? To learn more about this, we spoke to Shreya Kaul (She/ her), a counselling psychologist and Narrative Therapy Practitioner whose therapy is based on a queer affirmative, inclusive, feminist, and trauma-informed approach. She strongly believes that "self-expression is one of the biggest advantages of getting a tattoo. It's a creative form of expression that comes from a state of permanence and autonomy. Tattoos can help people. For so many of my clients, tattoos are ways of saying things they might not be able to say easily. To express love. It's also such a space for creativity. For those who make them and get them both. For people who get tattoos, their body acts as a canvas on which they have full control. I have tattoos that celebrate me and some connections I've made with people, too."