It is my belief and experience that we are all capable of renewing ourselves over and over as we courageously walk this path of becoming more of who we truly are. We create and re-create ourselves everyday and at different times in our lives. And so it is that personal healing and growth is a creative process much like art and music. Before embarking on my Masters degree (MA) in Expressive Arts Therapy and Psychology from the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, I taught piano for 15 years (ALCM) and have exhibited as a professional artist in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
Finding our way through transitional times of the “misfit” teenage years, re-imagining life after developmental or sudden trauma, as well as midlife bumps are what I specialize in, because I’ve walked (and stumbled!) through them. I’ve found that participating in the arts, however small, has helped ground my nervous system to allow healing to begin. Activating the spark of a playful spirit when things get tough is vital for the adventure ahead, especially when the road becomes rough and and our light, dims. We can be the hero/ine of our own story if we have the help to rewrite the story.
The arts are medicine and connection to a way back to our place in the world. With our natural human sensitivity to the arts, each person can gain a renewed quality of life and find that they are resilient! We are seeing this is the case in the recent and groundbreaking developments we are making in Trauma research. I use an authentic and original approach to verbal and non-verbal therapies by including music, sound therapies, drawing, writing and gentle movement to guide you through your story’s journey.
I have experience working with teenagers and adults, as well as people on the autism spectrum. My experience has included working 7 years in an addictions treatment centre for 7 years and leading Expressive Arts programs for First Responders and Veterans struggling with trauma, PTSD and substance abuse. Working with empaths, sensitives (HSPs) and introverts is also a honed passion of mine.
We walk together at your pace as you discover the resources that you’ve always had within. The arts are a bridge during these times of stuckness and change, to revive your senses and ignite the joy of being alive. Combining these tools with deep listening and the practice of self-compassion, I accompany you on your path to healthy self-esteem and inner growth.
At the centre of this work is love. Love and hope, and the continual tending to our inner garden with the practice of self-compassion. Building the strength and courage to bridge shame and self-love is a critical part of healing. Change is inevitable, it’s how we respond to it and walk through it that matters.
