Art Therapy

Art Therapy is offered by Cyndi Burgess and Claire Finlan.

What is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy combines the creative act of art making and psychotherapy to facilitate self-exploration and understanding. By using imagery, colour, and shape as part of this creative therapeutic process, thoughts and emotions that are difficult to articulate can be expressed in a visual format. As a result, the creative process can bring about awareness and subsequent processing of these thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.

Given its nature, Art Therapy is inherently focused on creative expression and does not require clients to have artistic skills. Anyone can seek this service from young children to adults.

A variety of art-based techniques are employed with clients such as drawing, painting, and sculpting. Within this broad range of creative activities exists many forms of sensory experiences from the tactile to the visual. Because of the multifaceted creative activities and materials employed in Art Therapy, this modality can be used to treat diverse mental disorders and psychological distress such as individuals experiencing grief or bereavement, children suffering from behavioural or social problems at school or at home, children and/or adults who have experienced a traumatic event or individuals suffering from a brain injury.

Who can it help and how?

The conditions that Art Therapy can treat is just as extensive. Some of these conditions include depression, stress, anxiety, aging-related issues, emotional difficulties, eating disorders, PTSD, and substance abuse.

As such, the mental health benefits of Art Therapy are as diverse as the techniques and materials employed within this modality. Some of the benefits, however, can include self-discovery, emotional regulation/release, increased self-esteem, and stress relief.

Many clients often wonder how Art Therapy differs from traditional, conversation-based psychotherapy. They are related through their use of psychotherapeutic techniques for healing and the development of a trusting and secure relationship between therapist and client however, in Art Therapy, there is a third member in the therapeutic dynamic: the creative process. Clients are encouraged to create art that expresses their inner world and this creation, in turn, becomes a visual voice for their presenting issues.

What can I expect from a Art Therapy sesion.

In sessions, the therapist will guide you in using a variety art materials and creativity to process and potentially resolve issues you would like to work on. Both Cyndi and Claire are excited to work with adults who are going through transitions in life or children aged 6+ to help develop the tools needed to tackle the big emotions of life, with grace.

Initial Session/Intake (In person or Virtual)

The intake session will last anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour. This session will be spent going over a brief history, and the individual will complete an art activity that will assist in goal setting.  Any consent or privacy concerns will also be discussed and addressed.

**If the client is under 18, a parent or guardian is requested to attend at least some of the intake session to explain the process, ensuring any questions, consent and privacy concerns are understood by all parties.

Follow-up Sessions (In person or Virtual)

During a 50 minute to 1 hour session, you will get to spend most of the time creating art and a little time chatting about it. Cyndi and Claire will have specific art directives planned, to aide you in reaching the goals you jointly decided upon at the intake session. Art Therapy is not about the finish product, it’s about exploring the process of artmaking with questions in mind. It doesn’t matter if you think you are an artist or even if you feel you are not creative at all, you just need to want to try. We assures you that you do not need to be an artist to create art, but rather have the desire to pick up a paint brush or crayon and make that first stroke. Therapeutic healing through art is about expressing your thoughts and feelings visually, and Claire will do everything she can to provide a comfortable space to share your experiences through art making and discussion.

Insurance

Psychotherapy is covered under many insurance policies. Cyndi is licensed through the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. If you have insurance coverage, please check your policy details to understand what services your policy covers. You are responsible to make inquiries with your insurance company to confirm the details of your coverage. We do not offer direct billing at this time.

Claire is and Art Therapy Student with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from Western University in London. As an Art Therapy Student her services are not covered by inusrance policies.