Art is my passion
Art therapy in Canada
I have personally and professionally experienced the healing powers of art but this is not just my perspective; extensive empirical research, journals and books have been written to support the benefits of art therapy. A number of schools have been developed in Canada that have contributed to the advancement of the profession. Vancouver Art Therapy Institute is just one of those schools and happens to be where I took my training. The British Columbia Art Therapy Association and The Canadian Art Therapy Association are the governing bodies for art therapists in Canada. Pioneering art therapists such as Naumburg, Cane and Kramer were three of the originating founders of art therapy and over the years several other art therapists have contributed to the profession including Saskatchewan's own Karen Wallace. Please check out the links to gather further information on the schools and governing art therapy bodies.
Often people ask me if they have to have an artistic ability to participate in art therapy. The truth is that art therapy is for anyone. Art therapy does not focus on the product but the process of creation. Because art holds a universal language, it knows no systemic and systematic barriers.
The benefits of using art in healing are astounding
I 
have been expressing myself through art since I was a young child but did not bring it into my practice until my bachelor's degree. In my Master's program I used art to help women who were pregnant and actively using substances as a harm reduction approach to aid in their healing journey. When I began working at Ranch Ehrlo in 2006 I used car models, painting, photography and a host of other tools to help youth recover from the issues which brought them to seek our services. The benefits of using art in healing were and continue to be astounding. I have discovered that art has the power to help the individual to work through their issues at their own pace in a timely manner.
I have always known I wanted to become an art therapist
In 2011, Ranch Ehrlo provided me with partial funding to aid in my tuition costs to attend Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. I conducted my practicum with the Developmental Disabilities Program under the supervision of Dr. Karl Mack, Carmel Kleisinger and Laura Worrall (Distance Education Director at VATI). I was extremely fortunate to have a studio built at my office by Ranch Ehrlo where I could provide art therapy services in a safe, judgment free and contained space. My practicum and course work granted me a new lease on life and a greater understanding of the complexity of working with individuals who have experienced pain and turbulence during their lives. As the practicum neared its conclusion, I had a newfound knowledge but most importantly my clients gave me the greatest gifts of all: their time, patience and understanding on my learning journey. I am forever in their debt.
The end is in sight
T
o date, I have completed nearly all of my studies with the exception of my final project. This project will focus attention on the benefits of animal assisted therapy in art therapy settings. Just to keep things phenomenological, I will write an appendix on my dog, Catie's, perspective of the practicum. I am hopeful to present on this subject in a nationwide conference in the next few years. At this time I will also speak to the benefits of using art therapy and animal assisted therapy services with the vulnerable populations. In closing, I express my sincerest gratitude to my clients, Karl, Carmel, Ranch Ehrlo Society, and everyone involved in my practicum for their support along the way. I am forever in debt to those who helped to shape and guide my practice.
