Color therapy incorporates colored light and imagery to help combat symptoms of numerous mental health conditions. Ancient civilizations first developed this approach, believing it could positively impact a person’s chakras. In modern days, color therapy may be used to help treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other concerns.
What Is Color Therapy?
Color therapy, also known as chromotherapy, incorporates color into treatment, whether through colored lights, specific daily color choices (i.e., clothing, paint colors, etc.), or colored imagery. Color therapy is rooted in Ayurvedic medicine and is practiced globally, particularly in Japan, India, and Egypt.
Color therapy can be helpful in the treatment of:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Seasonal affective disorder
- Sleep disorders
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Postpartum depression
History of Color Therapy
The history of color therapy dates back to ancient Egypt, Greece, India, and China. These cultures focused on tapping into Ayurvedic medicine and understanding the healing properties of colors. For example, many temples were built to reflect light in certain ways, and houses were painted to induce different energies and moods. In Indian culture, it is believed that colors are linked to one’s chakra. Thus, using colors in treatment can help align and fix a person’s chakras.1
Types of Color Therapy
Including color therapy in your life does not need to be complicated. Think about it–we see colors everywhere, all of the time. Wearing particular clothes, looking at specific images, and colored light bulbs can make a difference in your mood and disposition throughout the day. Color therapists argue that each color elicits particular changes, therefore adjusting colors used throughout treatment to enact different results.
The types of color therapy include:
- Red: Red is a powerful color that increases energy by stimulating the lymphatic system. However, red may also trigger stress as it is often used to notate the end of something or alert someone of danger.
- Orange: This color is often associated with one’s mind-body connection. Using this color in therapy may help heal one’s relationship with food.
- Yellow: Yellow brings warmth, yielding its association with happiness. When exposed to yellow, a person feels safe; when they are safe, they are happy.
- Green: Green is a natural color commonly associated with grass, trees, and other vegetation. Thoughts of nature can help a person feel calmer and more relaxed.
- Blue: Blue light wavelengths are shorter, thus increasing one’s sense of alertness. Blue light therapy can be used to help a person feel more focused.
Color Therapy Techniques
Color therapy can be introduced via one’s sense of touch and sight. This is because natural light wavelengths directly influence these two senses within the brain.
Color therapy may be administered via:
- Eyesight: This may be done by exposing a person to specific colors throughout the day, such as the paint colors in their home, the clothes they wear, or the color of light bulbs in their workplace.
- Skin contact: Color therapy may be introduced as face masks, sleeping bags, or other products that utilize colored LED lights. These amplify the appropriate colors in treatment depending on the desired outcome.
6 Benefits of Color Therapy
Color therapy has many benefits, especially in treating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other conditions. Furthermore, when we feel less anxious or sad, we may have more opportunities to improve other aspects of our lives.2
Here are six possible benefits of color therapy:
1. Stress Management
Stress management can be tough. We are constantly dealing with life struggles, which can ultimately negatively affect both our minds and bodies. Color therapy helps you decrease the impacts of this stress through mood-boosting properties. You can adopt color therapy practices as a stress management skill by simply changing the colors in your surroundings.
2. Decreased Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
When addressing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), color therapists focus on using colors to elevate dopamine levels that may be depleted during the winter season. During this period, days are typically shorter and darker. By changing the colors surrounding a person, whether by wearing brighter colors or introducing colored lights, an individual can bring warmth and comfort back into their home despite the changing seasons.
3. Improved Sleep
Insomnia can greatly impact a person. Chromotherapy can help individuals identify certain colors that make them feel more relaxed at night, thus positively impacting their sleep patterns. For example, limiting blue light before bed is beneficial.
4. Energy Rejuvenation
Happy, bright colors can help a person feel more rejuvenated because these increase mental brain activity. Therefore, individuals are more energized and ready to go about their days. This can be helpful when dealing with the low-energy levels associated with depression.
5. Reduced Anger
Color therapy creates environments that elicit calm and happiness rather than aggression, helping to reduce anger. Try including pops of bright colors like yellow or orange in your home or daily attire.
6. Improved Relationships
Communication with others may not be the greatest when dealing with excessive stress or sadness. Because color therapy is believed to help replace such emotions with positive ones, a person may be more open to socialization. Therefore, they can further develop their current relationships or seek new ones.
Is Color Therapy a Good Fit for Me?
Color therapy may be beneficial if you have not responded well to other treatment modules. Considering a more holistic approach is never a bad idea, but consult with a clinician specializing in color therapy to determine if it’s a good fit for you. Everyone reacts differently to treatment, so you should not expect to experience the same results as another person.
How to Practice Color Therapy on Your Own
You can begin to incorporate elements of color therapy into your daily life in simple ways. Minimal changes to your environment or routine can substantially impact your overall well-being.3
Here are some ways to practice color therapy on your own:
Get Outdoors
Natural colors are serene and inviting. Furthermore, green hues have grounding attributes, allowing an increased connection with yourself and your environment. Additionally, natural blue light (not artificial) facilitates rejuvenation and calmness. Nature positively impacts mental health, so try setting time aside each day to get outdoors, even for only a few minutes.
Be Smart With Color Choices
Feeling sad? Feeling overwhelmed? Consider taking note of any colors that leave you feeling uncomfortable or stressed. Be smart with your color choices. Wear warmer colors that elevate your mood, or paint the walls of your home in similar hues. This can also help you be more productive!
Limit Artificial Blue Light
Artificial blue light decreases serotonin levels. By limiting exposure to blue light, you may notice a change in your overall mood. Try taking a break from looking at your laptop, phone, or TV. Or, you can change the color balance on your devices so displays are dimmer and warmer.
Change Intake Method for Color Therapy
If one method of color therapy isn’t working as well as you’d like, consider trying an alternative. Instead of wearing a specific color shirt, switch out the artwork in your home office. Or, change the lightbulb in your bedroom and opt for a warmer tone.
Tap Into Your Creative Side
Get those markers, crayons, pens, and colored pencils ready! Use color and art to express yourself, and notice the colors that bring you joy. Which colors make you feel overwhelmed or stressed? You can better understand how specific colors impact you by tapping into creativity.
Track Your Data
Keep track of your moods to understand how color therapy affects you. A simple way to do so is by journaling. Include the colors you noticed around you throughout the day and how they made you feel.
How to Find a Color Therapist
Finding the right therapist is an important first step when approaching treatment for any condition. Using an online therapist directory when searching for a professional can be helpful. Look for someone specializing in holistic approaches. Therapy can also offer a safe place for both family and loved ones to learn more about how they can support you throughout your treatment.
Final Thoughts
While color therapy techniques can help a person destress and unwind, they can also aid in treating more serious conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Color therapy has many benefits, and consciously incorporating colors into your daily choices can increase overall wellness.
Color Therapy Infographics
