I believe therapy should be as common as getting out for a walk or engaging in any form of self care. We neglect our mental health which can be just as detrimental as neglecting our physical
health. Whether you have low level stress or have a chronic mental health issue, Art Therapy can be an integral part of ongoing therapy and enhance everyday life skills.
I approach each new client with acceptance and openness to what they might be looking for through Art Therapy. I am there to provide an individual with a setting to facilitate all expressions without negative repercussions and I encourage the artistic process without any emphasis on aesthetics or particular outcome. In other words, being ‘artistic’ is definitely not required.
My focus has been mainly with children and adolescents who have endured traumatic events and/or also suffer from a variety of mental health issues such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and other forms of self harm.
People remember many of life’s moments in images which can be difficult to put into words. Art Therapy provides an outlet to look at and understand and work through the given memories, perceptions and feelings.
I have always been interested in what makes people tick the way they do. On a post university travel experience, I spent a month trekking in Nepal and became fascinated with the level of
happiness that I saw amongst extreme poverty. Having done a Bachelor in Fine arts, Art Therapy was a natural course to follow. I have been a practicing art therapist since 1995 and have lucky enough to have worked for several years in Calgary, Vancouver and surrounding areas, and Toronto. Every client brings their own uniqueness and I love being able see growth and change throughout the Art Therapy process.