Bio-informational theory. The image we feel.
For years, it has been sensed that photographs hold a transformative power: looking at an old photo or taking a new one, pausing to observe, can open the door to deep emotions and meanings. However, until recently, scientific evidence supporting the use of photography for therapeutic and self-knowledge purposes was scarce.
Now, a newly published study confirms what many of us already knew.
It is the systematic review “Therapeutic Photography and Narrative Therapy – A Systematic Review” by Bebiana Silva, Luísa Soares, and Paula Alves (Journal of Poetry Therapy, 2026), which gathers and analyzes 47 studies on how images—when integrated with personal storytelling methods—can promote psychological well-being, self-reflection, and the reorganization of painful experiences.
This type of research not only provides evidence but also connects with well-established therapeutic models that have long been applied in psychology. In particular, they directly align with narrative therapy and contextual approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, where the goal is not to eliminate discomfort but to transform the relationship we have with our internal experience.
How is “therapeutic photography” used?
Unlike clinical phototherapy applied by professionals, therapeutic photography can be practiced autonomously. Anyone can carry out their own personal work. It consists of using the camera (or mobile phone) as a mirror and symbolic tool:
- Taking photographs of what represents an emotion, a conflict, or a hope.
- Looking at them attentively, allowing memories, associations, and ideas to emerge.
- Accompanying them with words or stories that help build meaning and new perspectives.
According to the study, when combined with narrative therapy—an approach that helps reframe our personal story—photography becomes a powerful catalyst for change. Images act as visual “anchors” that shape new narratives: they allow problems to be externalized, observed from a distance, and rewritten from a different emotional position.
From psychological practice, this process of externalization is key: when an emotion or experience becomes an image, it is no longer only “inside” but becomes something that can be observed. This facilitates processes of cognitive defusion (distancing from thoughts), acceptance (making space for what hurts without avoiding it), and contact with the present moment—all fundamental pillars of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Moreover, the simple act of choosing what to photograph already speaks about our values: what we pay attention to, what we decide to frame, preserve, or share reflects what is important to us. In this sense, photography not only shows—it reveals (quite literally).
What the research shows
The team of Silva, Soares, and Alves found improvements in individuals who participated in interventions combining photography and narrative.
Among the main benefits are:
- Greater self-knowledge and access to emotional memories.
- Mental reorganization of painful experiences (such as grief, trauma, or anxiety).
- Increased self-esteem and personal agency when narrating one’s own visual story.
- Improved emotional expression and empathy in group contexts.
Applications are wide-ranging: from grief and eating disorders to educational programs, prisons, and elderly care homes. An interesting detail: even everyday photography on social media can take on a therapeutic dimension if accompanied by conscious reflection on the meaning of what is shown or hidden.
This point is especially relevant today: we live in a constant visual culture, but not always a conscious one. Incorporating a reflective gaze transforms an everyday act into a practice of self-knowledge. It is not about producing more images, but about relating to them in a different way.
In the field of contemporary art, many photographers have explored precisely this dimension: the image as a space of identity, memory, and transformation. Artists such as Nan Goldin have worked from emotional intimacy; Francesca Woodman explored identity and presence; Sophie Calle has linked image, narrative, and personal life; and Rineke Dijkstra has investigated the construction of the self at different life stages. All of them, through different languages, show how photography can be a tool for deep psychological exploration.
As Dorothea Lange pointed out, photography not only documents but teaches us how to look. And in that learning of the gaze lies the possibility of understanding ourselves in a different way.
How can you use photography for your personal development?
Without needing to be a therapist or an artist, you can incorporate this tool into your personal life. Some ideas inspired by this study:
- Photograph your day with intention. Choose three moments that represent how you feel today. Then look at them and name them: “this calms me,” “this weighs on me,” “this drives me.”
- Create a symbolic self-portrait. It doesn’t have to show your face: it can be an object, a place, or a light that speaks about you.
- Create a series of “gratitude photographs.” Capture weekly what you value in your life.
Review your family album. Observe what emotions arise and which narratives you want to preserve or rewrite.
To these proposals we can add a key insight from psychology: it’s not only about taking the photograph, but about pausing afterward. Observing it, writing about it, asking what it says about oneself. It is in that space of pause where the therapeutic process truly begins.
What matters is not the technique, but the internal dialogue and awareness that are activated.
The work of Silva, Soares, and Alves confirms something that artistic practice and human intuition already knew:
For the photographer, an image can be the end of a project.
For self-knowledge, the image is the beginning of a transformation.
When that image is observed, named, and integrated into a personal narrative, it ceases to be a simple record and becomes a tool for change. Not because it alters the past, but because it transforms the way we relate to it.
At ANDANA, we can guide and accompany you through the process. Choose one of our learning experiences, get yourself a beautiful notebook, and prepare to look at yourself as if for the very first time.
Happy discovering,
Reference: Silva, B., Soares, L., & Alves, P. (2026). Therapeutic photography and narrative therapy – A systematic review. Journal of Poetry Therapy.
https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2026.2612717
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Amparo Muñoz Morellà. (April 29, 2026). "Scientific Evidence: Photography as a Tool for Personal Development". ANDANAfoto.com. | https://andanafoto.com/en/scientific-evidence-photography-as-a-tool-for-personal-development/.
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