Art Therapy and Wellness

ABOUT: LIVE WELL WITH BECKY

NAME/BUSINESS: Rebecca Harris

FACEBOOK/WEB: Live Well with Becky

“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere” – Albert Einstein

Expressive Art therapy (EXA) uses play and the imagination to engage with and address personal struggles.  These can include but are not limited to: grief, trauma, relationships, transitions, as well as psychological and emotional issues.

It requires little skill on the part of the client and offers multiple modalities: drama, music, voice, poetry, painting, or sculpture.  The focus is on the art and the information that surfaces from the creative process rather than on the identified problem.  It empowers the individual to create their own experience of healing and meets them where they are.

All individuals regardless of age or ability can benefit, and Expressive Arts Therapy is currently used in a wide variety of setting such as hospitals, schools, mental health agencies, and shelters.  It can be done individually or as a group.

Through a series of personal struggles, childhood trauma, an eating disorder, depression and anxiety, I ended up in a psychiatrist office who recommended traditional talk therapy.  I was unable to remove the blocks I faced in order to advance.  Quite by accident, I was blessed to have an experience with a woman who was an incredible art therapist.  I was amazed at how much insight and release of emotion resulted from my engagement in the creative process. I continued to see her for several months.  The result of this experience led me to pursue EXA as a career, having already gone through 3 years of a B.A. in psychology at UBC.

I received my diploma in EXA after a three year program through The Create Institute (formerly I.S.I.S. – the International School for Interdisciplinary Studies) in Toronto.  This program also included a 3 year clinically supervised practicum as well as over 100 of hours of personal therapy with an certified expressive arts therapist.

My experiences include working with  agencies such as Children’s Aid Society, Blue Hills Child and Family Center, Thistletown Regional Center and York Region Family Services.  While in Toronto I had the pleasure of participating in both group work and individual sessions with kids from low-income schools and co-led groups for survivors of sexual childhood abuse with The Gatehouse.

I am slowly re-emerging into this practice after being home with my kids for the last four years.  My current focus is providing personal growth and empowerment workshops as well as team building opportunities for organizations.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if any of this information has peaked your curiosity. We can discuss health products, expressive arts therapy, or collaborate on future workshops for creativity and soul connection. I look forward to hearing from you!