Art therapy uses art as a means of externalizing emotions and experiences, helping them to be acknowledged, moved through the body and released. For example, if you have experienced trauma, you most likely experienced flashbacks and intrusive memories which are both stored in the visual cortex (visual memory of the brain), both of which can be processed and externalized in a safe way through the art as the art acts as a natural grounding and containment tool, which are both important in trauma processing to ensure the person is not re-triggered. For those who experience anxiety, art therapy can allow connection to emotions in a tolerable way which helps the body to learn overtime that you can experience your emotions. The art also allows a way of deeper understanding of the emotions, meaning talking about them allows a layer of understanding, but finding other ways of making sense of your emotions such as in a visual way allows you to have a greater understanding of your emotions. Find below four key ways that art therapy works:
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Mental overload in motherhood is a sign of the times, and is important to tune into when it gets too high because it can lead to overwhelm, mom rage feelings (if you need support with this check out this blog article), and mom burnout. Find below 4 tips to help manage the mental load of motherhood.
To start let’s look at the foundation that I work from with a client. I see therapy as a collaborative process, and my role as a therapist is to be a guide to walk alongside you in your journey. I see each person as unique in their experiences and what has brought them to this point, thus I tailor and personalize the treatment approach to the needs of the particular client I am working with at the time. After completing the first session with the client we discuss if therapy were successful what would their life feel and look like; from this we begin to formulate goals and possibilities.
This is the third in a series of monthly posts about some of my favourite children’s books (first post and second post). With the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation around the corner on September 30, I thought it was meaningful to share four of my favourite books I like to read to my two children to support their understanding of the importance of protecting the environment and being stewards of change, and to remember and recognize the tragic history of residential schools. Please find them below:
My journey in becoming an Art Therapist started at a young age when I turned to art to express myself and capture what was important to me in my world. In the process as I grew older, I built my skill which fueled the interest in continuing this as an outlet, and also started to provide positive verbal recognition from teachers and peers. (As a side note any of those new to Art Therapy, please note skill is not necessary to achieve the benefits of Art Therapy, I am mentioning this as a precursor to how I found my way to art therapy.)
Mindful healing is a conscious way of healing that promotes lasting change, helping the client to feel empowered in their ability to navigate life’s ups, and more confident in their own skin. A key part of healing is engaging in mindfulness practices, this article speaks to the science behind mindfulness, multitude of research studies, and the numerous health benefits. I like to think of healing as a journey, and as we progress in our healing new doors and possibilities open for us, and we can start to see the next steps along the path. For some their healing may involve investing more in areas of their life, having better boundaries, valuing yourself, saying no, reducing the self-doubt, transforming the after effects of trauma, or finding ways to get off the loop of feeling broken or anxious. I believe mindful healing has the best outcomes with a collaborative approach, with the client motivated and invested in exploring different possibilities including integration of various approaches and professional expertise. Below are four invitations to support mindful healing:
The big day is upon us, the return of back of school! With this comes an array of emotions for parents and children alike. Find some strategies below to support the first day and week of school:
This is the second in a series of posts about some of my favourite children’s books. With school starting in one week these books can support easing the anxiety many kids may be feeling by supporting self-regulation through mindfulness. This post is relevant for developing a child’s understanding and application of mindfulness including awareness of our thoughts and feelings, building body awareness by connecting with our sensations and feelings, and kid-friendly mindfulness tools. Many of these books were integral in informing the the children's mindfulness groups I ran in the past. Please find below five of my favourites:
Does the idea of drawing feel daunting to you? I often here this from adult client’s when I share how art therapy can support them to achieve what they are working towards whether it is breaking through the impacts of past trauma, experiencing more confidence and feeling relaxed in their own skin, or feeling less anxious and more able to navigate life’s ups and downs.
The good news is you do not need to know how to draw to do art therapy, as the process of the art is the key part of the art therapy process and not the aesthetics of the final product. In art therapy we do offer opportunity to discuss what you as the client created, but it is not about evaluation of your use of colour, or working on rendering the images for more realism. Rather, what do the colours you use mean for you, and how is this image important to you and what meaning does it hold. Midway through August with the days growing shorter and a bit cooler, back to school becomes more real for parents and kids alike. With the thought of school and the transition back to the routines, afterschool programing and homework, some parents anticipate the challenges of the transition back to school. Here I provide some tips to get you started in supporting this transition:
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AuthorI am a Registered Psychotherapist and Art Therapist. And I have been writing this blog since May 2021 about various topics including parenting, supporting adult and child mental health, and holistic approaches. The intention of this blog is to provide resources and information to others, however it is not intended to take the place of therapy. If you have any questions about anything written please reach out to me. Archives
March 2024
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