What is colour therapy?
Colour therapy, also known as chromotherapy, uses colour and light to support well-being. It is a holistic therapy, meaning it focuses on the individual as a whole.
In practice, holistic therapists use visual colour to address imbalances that may contribute to mental health conditions.
Colour therapists work on the basis that certain colours may influence an individual's mood, and therefore, through exposure to a colour whose associations are opposite to what the individual is feeling, emotional balance can be restored.
By surrounding an individual with colours that encourage calmness, balance, energy, or positivity, practitioners believe that this can help to restore harmony and emotional stability within the mind and body.
How does colour therapy work?
Science teaches us that when light hits an object, the object reflects some of it and absorbs the rest. Some objects reflect more of a certain wavelength than others, which is why we see a certain colour. Something that absorbs all light appears black, while something that reflects all light appears white.
Colour is light of varying wavelengths.
It is these wavelengths that are important in colour therapy, as each colour has its own energy. This energy is key to balancing the chakras (energy centres) in the body. There are seven chakras, which correlate to the seven colours of the spectrum.
The theory behind colour therapy is that practitioners can identify imbalances in the body’s energy system and use colours with corresponding wavelengths to stimulate and rebalance the affected chakra.
Colour therapy is different to colour psychology – the study of how colours can influence human behaviour. Instead, colour therapy focuses on how specific colours can change a person’s energy.
Methods used in colour therapy
There are two specific techniques used in chromotherapy: sight and reflection. Practitioners of colour therapy believe that light can enter our bodies through our eyes and skin.
- Sight. This technique simply involves the client looking at a specific colour in the hope that this will have the desired effect.
- Reflection. The second technique involved reflecting a colour onto parts of the body, so that the colour is absorbed by the skin.
What can colour therapy be used for?
It’s important to note that chromotherapy is not scientifically backed as an effective treatment for mental health or physical conditions. There isn't currently evidence to suggest that colours have a direct effect on health. It is considered a complementary therapy, meaning it should be used alongside treatments recommended by health professionals rather than as a standalone therapy.
However, the theory of colour therapy can be applied to a variety of conditions.
- stress
- anxiety
- low mood
- fatigue
- insomnia
- headaches
- low energy
- low motivation
- sleep difficulties
- inflammation
- grief and bereavement
- seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Although overall evidence for colour therapy is limited, research has found that exposure to visible light wavelengths, particularly white light, was effective in alleviating mood dysregulation and depressive symptoms associated with SAD, supporting the therapeutic influence of light and colour on emotional well-being.
The history of colour therapy
Colour therapy has been used for thousands of years. It can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians, who placed coloured glass in rooms filled with sunlight for therapeutic purposes. The theory, as we know it today, was coined by Isaac Newton in the 1670s. He proved that white light was made up of a spectrum of colours, using a prism. This explained how rainbows form.
Newton also discovered that the sequence of colours never changes: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. We now know that there are more than seven colours in the rainbow – it is, rather, a mixture of hues – but the basis of colour therapy remains unchanged.
Using colours to boost wellbeing
Looking at the spectrum of colour, individual energies can have different effects. It’s thought that warmer colours, like red, are more stimulating, whilst cooler colours, such as violet, have more calming effects.
Colour is essentially an energy or vibrational tool for self awareness… Each colour has a meaning and offers insights into areas of our lives that we feel are blocked or where we would like to increase our potential for a more abundant and joyful life.
Therapy Directory member Emily Smith, Colour Mirrors Teacher
Let’s take a look at these colours and their benefits more closely:
What colours are therapeutic?
- Red: Thought to stimulate energy, the colour red is invigorating. It’s often used to increase energy in people experiencing fatigue. It’s also the colour most used to increase overall vitality.
- Blue: Blue is considered a very soothing colour. It’s therefore believed to be the most effective at relieving stress, headaches, inflammation, pain, depression and insomnia.
- Orange: The colour orange can be used to spark happy emotions, increase appetite and stimulate mental activity.
- Yellow: Similarly to orange, yellow shades are thought to lift mood and increase optimism. This makes it beneficial in supporting those with anxiety.
- Green: As green is the colour of nature, it’s thought to be the most calming, making it ideal for reducing stress and increasing relaxation. It’s also thought to have healing properties as it signifies growth and harmony.
Within colour therapy, it is recognised that each individual responds to colours differently, as personal energy can affect how a colour is perceived. In chakra-based practices, a practitioner may associate certain colours with specific energy centres linked to emotional and mental well-being; however, the way these colours are experienced can vary from person to person.
For example, a colour intended to encourage calmness or emotional openness (such as blue) may feel soothing to one individual, while evoking discomfort or emotional resistance in another. This is why sessions with qualified colour therapists can be valuable, particularly for individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and low mood, as practitioners can work intuitively with a person’s unique energy responses to help support a greater sense of balance and well-being.
The limitations of colour therapy
Individuals with migraines, photosensitive epilepsy, or certain eye conditions should seek medical advice before engaging in therapies involving bright or coloured light exposure. Anyone experiencing severe or persistent mental health symptoms should always seek support from qualified healthcare professionals alongside any complementary therapies.
The evidence supporting colour therapy varies depending on the method used. While some studies support the use of visible light therapy for conditions such as SAD, broader evidence for colour therapy remains limited. Positive effects may arise from relaxation, mindfulness, guided self-reflection, and supportive therapeutic interaction rather than from the colours themselves. However, studies into how the body responds to colour still continue.
Working with a colour therapist
It’s recommended to work with a professional colour therapist, as some stimulating colours may actually exacerbate symptoms if used incorrectly. Your practitioner will usually start by evaluating how you’re feeling and what you’d like to get out of the session. They will identify any blocked chakras in the body and source the relevant colours to try to rebalance these energies.
Your practitioner may ask you to simply look at colours, or they will reflect them onto parts of your body. A combination of the two techniques may also be used.
The Federation of Holistic Therapists describe practitioners to "use a number of different techniques, including: visualisation; spectrum lamps; coloured crystals and silks; solarised water; coloured oils; and encouraging the client to eat foods of a particular colour."
As colour therapy is a holistic treatment, it’s often used alongside other complementary therapies, such as Reiki and crystal healing.
If you’d like to know more about colour therapy and what to expect in a session, we recommend reaching out to a practitioner directly to discuss their approach.
