Hello and welcome!
I am so glad you’re here! I am Cheryl, an art therapist and counsellor living in Edmonton, Alberta.
If you’d like to find out about me and how I work, check out my short video, above.
In a nutshell – I believe that people’s experiences are due to dynamic interconnections between our mind, body and spirit, as well as between us and our community and environment. Our work together will focus on exploring changes you could make in these areas.
Engaging in this process can be truly transformative, offering the opportunity for profound and life-changing growth.
ABOUT ME
EXPERIENCE
In addition to my private practice, I work as the art therapist at a centre dedicated to supporting children and teens who have experienced sexual abuse, and I have a passion for seeing people experience restoration after traumatic events happen. I also have a personal faith background and former ministry experience that can be integrated into therapy for those wanting faith-based counselling.
My Focus Areas
My training and life experiences have equipped me to be able to work well with the following issues:
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Trauma Recovery
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Anxiety
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Grief and loss
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Stress management
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Breaking down perfectionism
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Improving communication skills
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Low self-esteem and confidence
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Managing life transitions
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Personal growth and development
EDUCATION
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Master’s of Psychotherapy and Spirituality , with Art Therapy Specialization St. Stephen’s College, University of Alberta Campus
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Bilateral Stimulation & Sensorimotor Expressive Arts Therapy Training
Trauma-informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute -
EMDR Training, and Flash Technique
Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute -
I have studied and taken courses in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical; Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and am currently undergoing intensive training in Somatic Experiencing Therapy.
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Registered Canadian Art Therapist (Reg#: 302-R-22)
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Canadian Certified Counsellor (Cert#: 10004909)
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Member of The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta
Background
Having a professional artist as a grandmother, I grew up with a deep appreciation for art and loved any chance I had to engage in creativity. Despite this, for many years I heeded the voice of my inner critic and followed a path that did not allow for much creativity or playfulness in my life. I knew there must be more to life that what I was experiencing, so after working in the financial industry for 18 years I gathered up the courage to listen to my heart. I followed a dream I believe my creator planted in me and returned to school, completing a Masters of Psychotherapy and Spirituality (MPS) degree, with a specialization in Art Therapy. I know that making changes in your life can feel overwhelming, and would consider it an honor to come alongside and support you as you make decisions and set goals that will make the next chapters of your life more joyful and fulfilling.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy combines the creative process and psychotherapy. Art therapists are trained in psychotherapy and include various art activities within their sessions to help facilitate self- exploration and understanding. Thoughts and feelings may be expressed via imagery, color and shape that could otherwise be difficult to articulate. Positive results in art therapy may be achieved by those facing such issues as: anxiety, depression, PTSD, grief and loss, and relationship issues, to name just a few. Individuals experiencing difficulty discussing or remembering painful experiences may find art therapy especially beneficial.
No, being a skilled artist is not required!
Anyone can benefit from art therapy; it is used with a wide variety of populations – from young children to the elderly, and everyone in between. In art therapy, we are not so concerned with creating artistic masterpieces (as one would be in an art class), but rather seek to gain new awareness via the creative process of artmaking. The art created in art therapy sessions is usually very simple and quick… yet it opens up new and profound insights that can show the way forward when we are confronted by various challenges in life.
What can I expect in an art therapy session?
In the early stages of therapy, you will be asked about your health background, as well as your current concerns and goals. There may be sessions that are more talking than artmaking, especially as we are beginning our work together… but even then, you may be encouraged to“show” how you are feeling via simple art prompts. As sessions progress, you will be invited to enter into artmaking, and will be supported in exploring themes that begin to emerge. You will likely be asked some questions about the art you’ve made, for example: What were youthinking as you were creating it? Does your artwork bring forth any memories… or perhaps some strong emotions? This creative process and follow-up discussion and exploration often leads to new ideas emerging, and you will use these ideas to gain insight and make decisions foryourself in order to move towards living with more vitality, joy and hope.
Do I need to have artistic skills to benefit from art therapy?
If you’d like more information about art therapy, check out the Canadian Art Therapy Association’s website here: www.canadianarttherapy.org
CONTACT ME
Are you ready to learn more?
Get in touch with me to book a free exploration call!