Colour in Counselling and Psychotherapy: Exploring the Emotional Power of Colour in the Therapeutic Space.

23 May

In counselling and psychotherapy, we often use tools to support emotional expression, insight and regulation. One tool, which I believe is gaining a renewed interest, is colours therapy. Sometimes known as Chromotherapy, colour therapy is a method of using colour to help with physical and emotional well-being.

Though colour therapy is considered an ancient in its roots, it is a helpful tool for exploration through a both psychological and holistic lens. This article invites you to reflect on how colour is used intentionally within counselling and psychotherapy to deepen the therapeutic process.

Understanding Colour Therapy

Colour therapy is based on the premise that different colours invite different physiological and psychological responses. In holistic traditions, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda, colour is linked to the energy centres or chakras of the body, with each hue believed to support specific aspects of wellbeing. Whilst these systems are not typically part of conventional psychological methods, they do align with a broader integrative approach to mind-body health.

In a psychological context, colour has long been associated with emotional and behavioural responses. For example, colour psychology explores how hues such as red may increase arousal and alertness, while blue can promote calm and reflection (Elliot & Maier, 2014). Consider how you are using colour in your language, do you get red with rage? Green with envy? Feeling blue?

These associations are not purely subjective; they are shaped by evolutionary, cultural, and contextual factors, influencing how clients perceive and respond to different environments.

Psychological and Emotional Associations of Colour

Below are examples of common colour associations and how they may be encountered or used in therapy:

Red – Often associated with energy, passion, and survival. It can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and raise heart rate, making it both invigorating and potentially overwhelming. In therapy, red might symbolise anger, intensity, or the life force. It can be grounding, but may also be triggering for those with traumatic histories.

Blue – Typically is linked to tranquillity, reflection, and communication. Blue is known to slow heart rate and encourage introspection. It may support clients dealing with anxiety or overstimulation. It is also associated with the throat chakra in holistic systems, symbolising expression and truth.

Yellow – Is usually connected to optimism, clarity, and intellect. Yellow can lift mood and stimulate mental activity but may also heighten anxiety in excessive use. In creative work, it might be used to explore issues around self-worth, confidence, or inner critic dynamics.

Green – A balancing and restorative colour often associated with nature, safety, and heart energy. Green may offer emotional reassurance and a sense of containment. It is sometimes used in visualisation to evoke a ‘safe place’ or inner calm. In holistic practices green is also associated with growth.

Purple – Associated largely with intuition, imagination, and spiritual awareness. It can foster deep reflection and connection to meaning-making processes. In transpersonal work, purple might symbolise integration, or connection to something greater than the self.
Orange – Represents enthusiasm, vitality, and creativity. Orange can stimulate emotional release and be helpful when working with issues of intimacy or blocked emotional expression. It may also evoke memories related to childhood or warmth.

White – Often conveys clarity, simplicity, or spiritual connection. It can represent a clean slate or potential, but in clinical spaces, excessive white may also feel sterile or emotionally distant.
Black – Frequently misunderstood, black can symbolise depth, introspection, or the ‘unknown’. It may relate to endings, shadow work, or protective withdrawal. It requires careful contextualisation, especially when working with clients in low mood or existential crises.

Of course, these are just examples. Colour is subjective and we all have our own ways of relating to colour and how we emotionally respond to it.

Colour in the Therapeutic Space

As therapists we want to set a warm, welcoming and safe environment for clients to step into. We may not always be conscious of how colour shapes the therapeutic setting, but the colours present, say in our furnishing, art or lighting, may have an effect on the client’s sense of safety, mood and openness. A room decorated with soft earth tones or soothing blues may promote a grounded atmosphere, whilst stark whites or bright reds could create tension or overstimulation in some clients. Being intentional with colour choices can therefore be a subtle yet powerful way of creating an emotionally attuned environment. Some therapist also incorporate colour more directly within their work. Interventions where clients are invited to select coloured stones, use coloured markers in their creative expression or visualise colour during guided imagery. In these practices, colour can be used as symbolic language to enable to the client to externalise their feelings that may be difficult to communicate. For clients who are more visual or sensorially oriented, this can offer a different route to deeper emotional exploration.

Integrating Holistic and Psychological Perspectives

The integration of colour with psychotherapy invites a bridge between traditional theories and holistic practices. From a Gestalt viewpoint, colour can be a meaning of contacting the ‘Hear and Now’ – a way for clients to access present emotions through sensory engagement. In Transactional Analysis, colour could be used metaphorically to represent ego states, or emotional scripts, supporting clients to recognise patterns.

Holistically, colour is understood as carrying vibrational energy, particularly in practices such as Reiki or Chakra Balancing – where colour is associated to particular areas of emotional and physical tension. Whilst this may not resonate with all clients or therapists, for those open to integrative or transpersonal approaches, such frameworks can offer enriching insights into emotional and energetic balance.

Cultural and Ethical Considerations

I find it important that we remember colour is subjective and shaped by individuals’ cultures and experiences. For example, whilst blue is considered peaceful in some traditions, in others it can represent mourning. Therefore, using colour in our work invites the client to explore their personal meanings, rather than assuming a universal interpretation. Moreover, any integration of colour should be client-led and congruent with the therapist’s modality and ethical framework. As with any creative or holistic technique, informed consent, sensitivity to trauma responses, and reflective practice are key.

Conclusion

Colour is more than a backdrop—it is an active component in our emotional lives. Whether used subtly through environmental choices or explicitly in creative interventions, colour offers a rich dimension to the therapeutic encounter. By drawing on both psychological and holistic traditions, therapists can open new pathways for expression and healing, supporting clients in their journey towards wholeness.

References

Elliot, A. J., & Maier, M. A. (2014). Color psychology: Effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 95–120. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115035
Fehrman, K. R., & Fehrman, C. (2004). Color: The secret influence. Prentice Hall.
Wright, A. (1998). Colour psychology and colour therapy: A factual study of the influence of colour on human life. Watkins Publishing.