“Any future we imagine will be drawn from a configuration or reconfiguration of our memories of the past.”
- Samantha Frost
Counselling and Psychotherapy Services
Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that utilizes visual art materials and the creative process as a means of emotional and embodied self-expression. Art therapy takes place within a therapeutic relationship with a trained art therapist who has knowledge and experience within the disciplines of psychology, visual arts, and psychotherapy. As an art therapist, I integrate various therapeutic techniques with the creative process to support self-awareness, personal growth, and emotional healing.
What if I am not good at art or don’t have any artistic experience?
No artistic skill or experience is necessary to engage in art therapy. There is no “good” or “bad” art. Your artwork won’t be evaluated or judged in any way. I may encourage you to explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences through artistic mediums such as drawing, collage, painting, sculpture, fibre art, or creative writing exercises. The purpose of this engagement is not to produce aesthetically pleasing artwork, but instead to gain insights that may emerge through the process of making the art.
How can Art Therapy help?
Through the use of symbols, metaphors, and sensory experience, one may be able to access, integrate, and communicate thoughts, experiences and feelings that may otherwise be difficult to articulate in spoken language. Individual experiences can be understood in connection with broader social contexts that may support insight and positive changes in one’s self-perception, relationships and life decisions.
Who can Art Therapy be helpful for?
Art therapy can support people of all ages and stages of the life cycle. This creative approach can be adapted across cognitive and physical abilities. Art therapy offers the opportunity to explore, process, and integrate personal and social experiences in areas such as: social oppression; climate change; life transitions; trauma and loss; infertility; pregnancy and parenting; social connection; identity; anxiety and depression; early mental health and child development; relational connection between young children and caregivers; self-expression and emotional regulation.
Infertility/Pregnancy Loss
Perinatal Therapy
As someone with many years of experience working with pregnant and parenting folks, and as a mom myself, I know that it’s not always easy to reach out for emotional support. I also know that the journey through thinking about becoming a parent, reproductive care, and parenting can be isolating with many ups and downs. I’m here to offer non-judgmental support that centres care, connection, and an understanding of your experiences within your social and cultural context. I value your strengths and vulnerabilities as a human and as a caregiver. As a not-yet parent, a new parent, a grieving parent, or a seasoned parent, your mental well-being matters.
Experiences you may be struggling with might include:
Considering parenthood
Not wanting to parent
Decision to terminate a pregnancy or processing an abortion
Infertility
Emotional ups and downs of fertility treatments, IVF,
donation, surrogacyEmotional ups and downs of foster parenting
or adoption process/ transitionsPregnancy loss
Pregnancy and identity transformation
Pregnancy/Postpartum Mood Disorders (PMADS)
Early stages of parenting (emotions, hormones, sleep deprivation, relationships)
Emotional ups and downs of parenting a
toddler or pre-schoolerPregnancy and Parenting as a teen or young adult
Pregnancy and Parenting as an older adult
Through art making and verbal exploration within a therapeutic relationship, I aim to help you to make meaning of the challenges you face, to gain insight for the path ahead, and to celebrate all your strengths along the way.
Through the creative process, I support people engaged with reproductive healthcare, pregnant people, young children, youth, and caregivers, to gain self-awareness and insight, building caring relationships with themselves and those around them.
Through our relationship, I aim to cultivate a safe space for the people I work with to explore life’s challenges and to grow into their potential.
No artistic skill or experience with visual artmaking is necessary and all materials are provided.
Trauma Therapy
As a psychotherapist and art therapist, specialized in relational and evidence-informed trauma therapy, I aim to support individuals to integrate the psychological, somatic, and relational effects of traumatic experiences. These experiences may include physical, sexual, or emotional abuse (historical or recent); intimate partner violence; sexual exploitation; infertility, pregnancy loss, or birth trauma; trauma due to ongoing social oppression or human rights injustice; or other psychologically overwhelming situations.
Through a collaborative approach that honours both strength and vulnerability, we set goals that help you to process and integrate painful memories. I will help you develop coping skills to manage emotional distress and nurture personal growth in your day-to-day life. Through our work together, you may establish a greater sense of safety, freedom, and empowerment, within yourself and in connection to the world around you.
Session Format
Counselling and psychotherapy services are offered individually or through caregiver/infant-child dyads. Sessions can take place in-person or virtually across Ontario.
For a free 15 minute consultation or intake session, you can book through my Jane app:
https://erinkuri.janeapp.com
Or email me at erin@featherandtwig.ca