Arts Based Super Vision
Last weekend I went to a wonderful workshop sponsored by the Ontario Art Therapy Association (OATA) on Arts-based and Positive Supervision. It was a workshop designed for supervisors but open to all including students and supervisees. Aside from the sharing of pertinent information around supervision issues, we explored our character strengths as supervisors and supervisees […]
Creativity, Vulnerability and Reflection
Here we are in 2018, a new year, a new day, a new outlook, if you choose. The New Year celebrations to me are about reminding ourselves that there is always a new opportunity to start fresh, everyday, every hour, every minute, every second of our lives. We just need to take it. We do […]
Creative Inner Work and Balance
In November I held my last workshop for 2017. I was honoured to lead one of my Creative Self-Care workshops in my home studio with a full house so to speak. It was exciting to have some new and old faces join me in this self-care series. One of the things that I spoke […]
Reflections on Doodle Journey Part Two
It has been amazing seeing all the different interpretations and expressions of the Doodle Journey course. Once a year I offer this course free to those willing to take the time to explore through doodles, while setting judgement aside. Because doodling is so process based, it is a simple and easy way to allow […]
Creative Momentum
I’m feeling really inspired after our mountain bike trip to Mount Saint Anne, near Quebec City, where the UCI Mountain-bike World-Cup races were held. Even though the rest of my family are much stronger cross-country mountain bikers, and are into downhill mountain bike riding (unlike myself who will take a climb over a downhill anytime) I really appreciated taking my […]
Renewal Through Creative Re-Purposing
Sometimes we need to look at things differently, with fresh eyes. Doing this allows us to take a new perspective, and opens the door to all the possibilities in life, including ones we may not have known existed. Creating art is a direct way to make this happen. When art-making, there is always the potential […]
Creative Mythology
This weekend I had the pleasure of running two arts based workshops where the focus was on self-exploration through creative process. In both the question came up- as often it does at these workshops: how are you able to keep your creative practice going? I must admit one of the reasons I began doing these […]
Self-Care Through Elemental Art
This week is children’s mental health week here in Canada. With many events promoting awareness about children’s mental health and the importance of supporting services. As an art therapists who primarily works with children and youth I see the need for more understanding and compassion towards children who often become labeled as “difficult” due to […]
Creative Process: the Underbelly of Self-Care
When we step into our own creative voice we step into our Self; who we are becomes strengthened by our creative connection through art making. Experimentation, letting go of outcome, and play are all aspects that allow us to come into our own creative voice. This voice is the underbelly of our authentic Self. […]
Challenging Your Creative Norm
I decided to challenge my creative practice, try something I don’t normally do. Usually I like to work more intuitively, painting, drawing, making art about whatever needs to come out in that moment. This is my comfort zone, to work without a directive or plan. For some that is daunting, for me it is freedom. […]