Creative Therapy

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is art therapy?

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the creative process of making something to help people express and understand how they think, feel and act. Clients are invited to use all kinds of art materials to express whatever is on their mind without having to use just words. For many people, the opportunity to express themselves through art allows difficult or less familiar thoughts and feelings to come out. Once thoughts and feelings are in the artwork, the client and the therapist can look at them together, discuss them further and come up with creative ideas around what the client would like to do with the thoughts and feelings. Art Therapy uses a strengths-based relational approach, meaning that we believe that our clients already have what it takes to face challenges.

Art therapy is not an art class or about creating “good” or aesthetically pleasing artwork. It’s not about learning artistic techniques or mastering specific skills like shading, perspective, or color theory. The focus is not on the final product but on the process of creating, which can reveal thoughts, feelings, and patterns that might be difficult to express through words alone. In art therapy, the value of the artwork lies in what it represents emotionally or psychologically for the individual—not in how it looks to others. Unlike traditional art instruction, art therapy sessions are guided by therapeutic goals, not artistic ones, and there is no right or wrong way to create. It is a supportive, judgment-free space where self-expression and exploration are prioritized over technique or talent.

Everyone can benefit from Art Therapy! Mothers can use art therapy to connect with their newborn child, children as young as 3 years to adults as old as 103 years can benefit from the process of visual exploration and expression! Art therapy is often a great fit for children because their most familiar and natural form of communication is play. They are still learning and figuring out what words mean, but they understand things visually and concretely. The same is true for people who may be unable to express themselves verbally, whether due to a cognitive disability or even a language barrier.  Art therapy is also great for anyone who may feel a bit nervous about the idea of going to therapy or hesitant to share about experiences, and may enjoy the opportunity to be active and do something during the session.

No artistic experience or talent is needed! What’s important is the experience of making something instead of how it looks when it’s finished. There are no rules for how to create art in art therapy and anyone can enjoy the benefits of the creative process.  Many times the work done is art therapy may appear as scribbles, ripping up paper, or even just shaping a ball of clay.

In an art therapy session, the client is the primary interpreter of their own artwork, with guidance and support from the art therapist.

Rather than analyzing or assigning fixed meanings to the art, the art therapist facilitates reflection by asking open-ended questions and helping the client explore what their imagery, symbols, colors, or themes might mean to them personally. The therapist may notice patterns, emotions, or metaphors, but interpretation is always collaborative and grounded in the client’s experiences and insights.

This approach respects the idea that the meaning of the artwork is subjective and unique to each individual, and that healing happens through personal discovery rather than imposed analysis.

An art therapy sessions is 50 minutes long.  Longer sessions can be scheduled, if required.

It is possible that the therapeutic process can bring up big feelings, especially if the client has had some traumatic experiences. Art-making can sometimes tap into the subconscious and can bring memories or feelings to the surface that may have been inaccessible before.  This is very important for healthy emotional processing and for working through challenging experiences in an adaptive way. Art therapists are specially trained to know how art-making can evoke feelings, and to help contain big feelings within the frame of the session. That being said, sometimes feelings and sessions in themselves are very intense and can leave the client feeling tired or overwhelmed. It can be hard work to think and talk about feelings, especially difficult ones. It is important for parents, caregivers, and service providers to be aware of this. After a challenging session it may be helpful to offer the client a little bit of extra TLC, or to engage in an intentionally relaxing or soothing activity. 

Art therapy can support individuals facing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. It is particularly helpful for those experiencing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or difficulties with confidence and social relationships. Art therapy can also benefit individuals with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), learning disabilities, and OCD by offering a non-verbal, structured outlet for expression and self-understanding. Common goals in therapy may include improving emotional regulation, impulse control, organization, empathy, and social-emotional skills. It is also an effective tool for processing trauma, managing behavior, and building coping strategies in a safe and supportive environment.

The number of sessions is determined by the individual needs of the client.  We usually schedule sessions in blocks of six, with the sixth session consisting of an art review to look at the progress that has been made.  While some clients may choose to attend therapy for a short time, other clients may choose to continue therapy for several years as a way of self-care, self growth and self exploration.

For parent(s) or caregiver(s) bringing their child(ren) we provide the options of a parent feedback session after the fifth session in the block. This allows us to receive valuable information from the parent(s) and or caregiver(s) on how they feel the therapy is going. It is an opportunity for us to receive and provide suggestions and ideas on ways to best support the child or children. We believe that collaborating with caregiver(s) and parent(s), leveraging on their expertise, as well as using the knowledge and experience that we have, provides the highest level of therapy care for the child(ren). This is a way for us to provide support and pass on knowledge about the mind and child development to the parent(s) or caregiver(s).

We abide by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario’s ethical guidelines regarding consent. Consent may be written, verbal or implied. Generally, in the context of psychotherapy, consent is implied by the very attendance of a client at a therapy session. Attendance must be willing and voluntary, and the client should be informed about the process of therapy and the type of therapy or therapeutic approach normally employed by the therapist. In many instances, engaging in a dialogue with the therapist and discussing personal experiences and issues, will amount to implied consent for therapy.

There is no minimum age for consent. Clients under 18 years of age can, if they are capable of understanding and appreciating the consequences of their decision, give consent.  If not, we ask that the guardian complete the consent forms on their behalf.

You can withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent will be documented in your client record, and will include the reason for the change.

Confidentiality is very important to us and an ethical obligation. We take great steps to ensure we keep all information that you or your child provide confidential. There are limits to confidentiality, which are reviewed prior to beginning sessions.

 

It is also important to note that confidentiality and trust must still be upheld, even with a child.  This means that what a child shares in a session will not be shared with the parent or guardian without prior consent from the child, or unless the child is danger and an intervention is required.

For parent(s) and caregiver(s) who are bringing their child or teen to art therapy, we keep what they share with us confidential, as it helps the child or teen to build trust in the therapist. That said, as a parent you may be curious about what your child is feeling, thinking and sharing, and so if there is something you need to know we will share the information with you, after obtaining consent from your child. Our aim is to continue to build communication with the child and their parent(s) or caregiver(s). If your child is in any danger we will share our concern with you immediately.

Termination is a natural part of the therapy process. Client’s often decide to reduce frequency, take a break or end their therapy with their current therapist for a variety of different reasons. We believe that having the appropriate amount of time to prepare for a proper termination is as important as building trust at the beginning of therapy. The time it takes to bring therapy to a proper closure will be different for each individual. We will never be personally offended if you choose to end your working relationship with us, that said, if you feel comfortable, we appreciate knowing, so we can support your decision in the most intentional way possible. This conversation, while difficult, will allow us the opportunity to address any concerns in the service provided and provide after therapy care, which may include linking you with resources or referrals to other professionals if required.

A major part of the work in therapy is embedded in the relationship between the client and the therapist. Bringing that relationship to an end can bring a lot of feelings for the client. It is very crucial for them to be able to work through these vulnerable emotions in a safe space with the therapist. Termination may be especially difficult for children who have experienced disruption in their attachment relationships. Parent / caregiver feedback sessions are a great place to talk to your child’s therapist about frequency of sessions, termination and the best way to support them through the process. A mindful termination provides the opportunity to build skills around saying goodbye, celebrate and highlight their successes, review all their artworks and contribute to their self esteem. 

We really love what we do and always aim to provide all our clients the highest level of service. That said, are always open to receiving feedback and/or suggestions. 

If you happen to see your Art Therapist out and about, they will respect your privacy and space and will not say hello first, however if you would like to greet them please do! Your comfort is of great importance to us.

The number of sessions is determined by the individual needs of the client.  We usually schedule sessions in blocks of six, with the sixth session consisting of an art review to look at the progress that has been made.  While some clients may choose to attend therapy for a short time, other clients may choose to continue therapy for several years as a way of self-care, self growth and self exploration.

For parent(s) or caregiver(s) bringing their child(ren) we provide the options of a parent feedback session after the fifth session in the block. This allows us to receive valuable information from the parent(s) and or caregiver(s) on how they feel the therapy is going. It is an opportunity for us to receive and provide suggestions and ideas on ways to best support the child or children. We believe that collaborating with caregiver(s) and parent(s), leveraging on their expertise, as well as using the knowledge and experience that we have, provides the highest level of therapy care for the child(ren). This is a way for us to provide support and pass on knowledge about the mind and child development to the parent(s) or caregiver(s).