One of the most important distinctions we want to make clear at Ethos of Care is the difference between professional therapy (which requires licensure and clinical training) and therapeutic activities (which support wellbeing, but don't constitute mental health treatment). Understanding this difference helps you make informed decisions about your mental health care, so that you can know when each approach is appropriate.
What Is Professional Therapy?
Professional therapy—also called psychotherapy, counseling, or clinical treatment—is a regulated health service provided by licensed mental health professionals. This includes:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologists (PhD, PsyD)
- Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC, LPCC)
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT)
- Psychiatrists (MD, DO)
- Licensed Art Therapists (ATR, ATR-BC)
What therapy provides:
- Clinical diagnosis of mental health conditions using established diagnostic criteria (DSM-5, ICD-11)
- Treatment planning specifically designed for diagnosed conditions
- Evidence-based interventions for conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, and other mental health diagnoses
- Crisis intervention for acute mental health emergencies
- Medication management (when provided by psychiatrists)
- Documentation and treatment records that can be used for insurance, disability claims, or legal purposes
- Ethical and legal accountability through state licensing boards
- Confidentiality protections under HIPAA and other regulations
When you need professional therapy:
- You're experiencing symptoms that significantly interfere with daily functioning (work, relationships, self-care)
- You have thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- You're dealing with trauma, abuse, or other experiences that require clinical expertise
- You need diagnosis or treatment for a mental health condition
- Previous self-help approaches haven't been sufficient and you need clinical intervention
- You're in crisis or experiencing acute psychological distress
What Are Therapeutic Activities?
Therapeutic activities are practices that support mental health, reduce stress, promote wellbeing, and complement professional care—but they don't constitute mental health treatment. These include:
- Creative practices (art, crafting, writing, music)
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Exercise and movement practices
- Journaling and reflective practices
- Support groups and community connection
- Self-help books and educational resources
- Wellness coaching (when provided by non-licensed practitioners)
What therapeutic activities provide:
- Stress reduction and relaxation through engaging practices
- Emotional expression in non-clinical contexts
- Skill development in areas like mindfulness, creativity, or self-reflection
- Community and connection with others who share similar experiences
- Educational information about mental health, wellbeing, and self-care
- Complementary support that enhances professional treatment when you're in therapy
- Preventive wellness practices that support ongoing mental health
When therapeutic activities are appropriate:
- You're generally functioning well but want to reduce everyday stress
- You're looking for practices to complement therapy you're already receiving
- You want to develop skills for emotional regulation and self-awareness
- You're seeking meaning, creative expression, or contemplative practice
- You want to maintain mental health and prevent future difficulties
- You need accessible, affordable wellness support between therapy sessions or after therapy has concluded
Where Ethos of Care Fits
Ethos of Care offers therapeutic creative activities, not professional therapy.
Specifically, we provide:
- Curated craft materials selected based on research about which modalities support specific psychological states
- Educational content explaining the neuroscience and psychology of how creative practice supports wellbeing
- Guided practices that help you engage with crafting as contemplative, stress-reducing activity
- Community connection with others exploring creative practice for wellness
- Research-informed frameworks for understanding how and why creative engagement supports mental health
What we do NOT provide:
- Clinical diagnosis or assessment
- Treatment for mental health conditions
- Crisis intervention or emergency mental health services
- Therapy sessions or clinical counseling
- Medical or psychological advice for specific individual situations
- Substitute for professional mental health care
Our founder, Dea Jenkins, is not currently:
- A licensed therapist, counselor, or psychologist
- A licensed art therapist
- A medical or mental health professional
Dea is:
- An educated researcher and practitioner exploring the intersections of creativity, psychology, and wellbeing
- Someone with lived experience using creative practices as part of her own wellness journey
- A curator and educator helping others access research-informed creative practices
How They Work Together
The most effective approach to mental health often combines professional therapy with supportive therapeutic activities. Here's how they can complement each other:
If you're in therapy:
- Creative practices can give you tools to use between sessions
- Crafting can help you process emotions that arise in therapy
- Your therapist might actively encourage complementary wellness practices
- Creative work can provide concrete objects or experiences to discuss in therapy
If you've completed therapy:
- Therapeutic activities help you maintain the gains you made in treatment
- Creative practices offer ongoing tools for managing stress and emotions
- Community and connection support continued wellbeing
If you're not currently in therapy:
- Therapeutic activities can support general wellness and stress management
- Creative practices might help you develop self-awareness that informs whether you'd benefit from therapy
- These practices are valuable for maintaining mental health even when clinical treatment isn't needed
The Research Foundation
The distinction between therapy and therapeutic activities doesn't mean the latter lacks evidence or rigor. Extensive research demonstrates that creative engagement, mindfulness practices, and other therapeutic activities genuinely support mental health:
- Studies show that creative activities reduce cortisol (stress hormone) levels[1]
- Research on knitting demonstrates measurable anxiety reduction[2]
- Art-making activates reward pathways in the brain similar to meditation[3]
- Engagement in creative hobbies is associated with better mental health outcomes[4]
This research validates therapeutic activities as meaningful wellness practices while still distinguishing them from clinical treatment.
Making Informed Choices
Understanding this distinction empowers you to make good decisions about your mental health care:
Choose professional therapy when:
- You need clinical expertise for diagnosed conditions
- Self-help approaches haven't been sufficient
- You're experiencing crisis or severe symptoms
- You need the structure, accountability, and expertise a licensed professional provides
Choose therapeutic activities when:
- You're looking for wellness practices to maintain good mental health
- You want to complement therapy you're already receiving
- You need accessible, affordable stress reduction tools
- You're seeking creative expression, meaning-making, or contemplative practice
Ideally, use both:
- Work with a licensed therapist for clinical treatment
- Engage in therapeutic activities for ongoing support and skill-building
- Think of them as different levels of care that work together
Our Commitment to Ethical Practice
At Ethos of Care, we take these distinctions seriously because we care about your wellbeing and want to operate with integrity. This means:
We will:
- Clearly state that we're not providing therapy or clinical services
- Base our educational content on research and cite our sources
- Encourage you to seek professional help when that's what you need
- Provide crisis resources for readers who may be in distress
- Stay within our scope as educators and providers of creative materials
- Continue learning and consulting with licensed professionals to ensure our guidance is sound
We won't:
- Make claims we can't support without research
- Suggest that creative practice replaces professional treatment
- Offer advice for specific mental health diagnoses or crises
- Pretend to expertise we don't have
- Discourage anyone from seeking professional care when they need it
Getting Help When You Need It
If you are experiencing mental health symptoms that interfere with your daily life, please reach out to a licensed professional. Here are some resources:
Immediate Crisis Support:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Emergency Services: Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
Finding a Therapist:
- Psychology Today Therapist Finder: psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (treatment referral service)
- Your insurance provider's directory of in-network mental health professionals
- Your primary care physician for referrals to mental health specialists
Low-Cost Options:
- Community mental health centers (sliding scale fees)
- University training clinics (supervised services at reduced cost)
- Online therapy platforms (often more affordable than in-person)
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) through your workplace
The Bottom Line
Therapeutic activities like creative practice are valuable, research-backed ways to support your mental health—but they're not substitutes for professional therapy when that's what you need.
At Ethos of Care, we're honored to offer you tools, education, and community for your wellness journey. We believe creative practice has genuine therapeutic benefits supported by research. We also believe in being honest about what we offer and what we don't, so you can make informed choices about your care.
If you're not sure whether you need therapy or therapeutic activities (or both), that's a great question to explore with your primary care physician or to discuss during an initial consultation with a therapist. Many people benefit from both clinical treatment and supportive wellness practices.
We're here to support your wellbeing in the ways we responsibly can, and we're grateful to be part of your journey.
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Questions?
If you have questions about what Ethos of Care offers or about how our practices might complement your existing care, please send us a message. While we can't provide clinical advice, we are happy to clarify our offerings and to help you determine if our resources are a good fit for your needs.
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References
[1] Kaimal, G., Ray, K., & Muniz, J. (2016). Reduction of cortisol levels and participants' responses following art making. Art Therapy, 33(2), 74-80.
[2] Riley, J., Corkhill, B., & Morris, C. (2013). The benefits of knitting for personal and social wellbeing in adulthood: Findings from an international survey. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(2), 50-57.
[3] Bolwerk, A., Mack-Andrick, J., Lang, F. R., Dörfler, A., & Maihöfner, C. (2014). How art changes your brain: Differential effects of visual art production and cognitive art evaluation on functional brain connectivity. PLoS ONE, 9(7), e101035.
[4] Stuckey, H. L., & Nobel, J. (2010). The connection between art, healing, and public health: A review of current literature. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 254-263.
*Post image is by Hans.
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Last updated: December 1, 2025
This page is intended for educational purposes and does not constitute medical or mental health advice. Please consult with licensed professionals for clinical care.
