Art Therapy
Art therapy is a therapeutic modality that uses creative expression as a way of exploring thoughts, emotions, and experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
It may be incorporated into talk sessions when it feels supportive and appropriate, always guided by your comfort and choice.
Sessions are available in person in Victoria and online across British Columbia.
Art Therapy Offers Another Way In
For many people, talking alone does not always capture the full complexity of grief, loss, or emotional experience.
Art therapy can offer a gentler, more indirect way of approaching what feels heavy, tender, or hard to name.
It is not about creating something aesthetically pleasing or having artistic skill.
Instead, art therapy offers another way of noticing, expressing, and understanding what is happening within you.
UNDERSTANDING ART THERAPY
Curiosity,
Not Performance
Art therapy invites curiosity rather than performance.
You do not need to consider yourself creative or artistic to take part. There is no expectation to create something a certain way, only space to explore what feels present for you.
Expression Beyond Words
Sometimes thoughts, feelings, or experiences can feel difficult to put into words.
Art therapy can offer another way of expressing thoughts, feelings, or experiences, at a pace that may feel gentler or less direct than conversation alone.
For some people, this can create a sense of containment and safety. For others, it may help bring forward feelings that have been difficult to access or express.
Support in
Grief and Loss
Art therapy can be especially supportive when grief or loss feels overwhelming, tangled, or difficult to express.
It offers another way of sitting with feelings, memory, and connection, with care and curiosity.
How Art Therapy May Be Used in Counselling
Art therapy is always offered collaboratively.
Together, we decide whether and how creative processes are included in our work. You are free to decline, pause, or shift away from art-based approaches at any time.
In sessions, art-making may be used to explore emotions, relationships, identity, or changes brought on by loss.
Sometimes the focus is on the process itself rather than the image that is created. At other times, artwork becomes a starting point for reflection and conversation.
Art therapy may also support nervous system regulation through grounding, sensory engagement, or moments of rest from verbal processing. These approaches are introduced gently and with care, always respecting your pace and boundaries.
My approach to art therapy is trauma-informed, collaborative, and grounded in respect for your lived experience. Art therapy is not used to analyze or interpret you, but to support understanding and self-awareness in ways that feel accessible and meaningful.
What to Expect in Sessions
You Set the Pace
Sessions are flexible and guided by your comfort, readiness, and what feels safe for you.
There is no pressure to create, share, or go deeper than feels safe for you.
A Supportive Environment
Sessions often begin with a gentle check-in about how you are arriving that day and what feels most present.
If art-making feels supportive, there may be time for creative exploration using simple and accessible materials. You are always welcome to engage in whatever way feels right for you, including choosing not to use art materials at all.
Responsive
and Flexible
Each session responds to what you are bringing that day.
Some sessions may include art-making, while others may remain fully conversational. The process is flexible and shaped around what feels supportive, manageable, and meaningful for you.
Art therapy offers another way of exploring your experience with care, curiosity, and gentleness.
When you’re ready,
I’m here to support you.
