Adjunct Faculty
Stephen K. Levine
Stephen K. Levine, Ph.D., D.S.Sc., is Professor Emeritus of Social Science and Social and Political Thought at York University and Founding Dean of Doctoral Studies in Expressive Arts Therapy at the European Graduate School. Steve is a psychotherapy graduate of the Toronto Institute of Human Relations, and was a post-doctoral Fellow in Expressive Therapy at Lesley University Graduate School. He is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT).
Steve is a poet, actor and clown. He is the author of Poiesis: The Language of Psychology and the Speech of the Soul; Trauma, Tragedy, Therapy: The Arts and Human Suffering; co-author of Principles and Practice of Expressive Arts Therapy: Towards a Therapeutic Aesthetics; co-editor of Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy: Theoretical and Clinical Perspectives; founding editor of Poiesis: A Journal of the Arts and Communication, co-founder of IEATA (International Expressive Arts Therapy Association); and co-founder of The Create Institute.
Steve is a poet, actor and clown. He is the author of Poiesis: The Language of Psychology and the Speech of the Soul; Trauma, Tragedy, Therapy: The Arts and Human Suffering; co-author of Principles and Practice of Expressive Arts Therapy: Towards a Therapeutic Aesthetics; co-editor of Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy: Theoretical and Clinical Perspectives; founding editor of Poiesis: A Journal of the Arts and Communication, co-founder of IEATA (International Expressive Arts Therapy Association); and co-founder of The Create Institute.
Melanie Nesbitt, RP
Melanie Nesbitt, ADTR, CAGS, RP, is a teacher, supervisor, and clinician in private practice in Canada, the U.S, and Israel where she worked with victims of terror. Her practice also includes children with special needs such as asperger’s syndrome, adolescents with mood disorders and adults experiencing depression and post-traumatic stress.
A graduate of York University and European Graduate School (CAGS), she is an accredited dance/movement therapist with the American Dance Therapy Association. She taught eight years at York University and guest lectured at McMaster addressing medical students on the outcome of non-verbal interaction with patients. She also lectured at Ryerson and Waterloo Universities. As a researcher, she has studied parent/child interaction, speech stimulation and movement with the aging population. Melanie’s artistic training includes years of performing in music, dance, drama and voice on stage and television.
A graduate of York University and European Graduate School (CAGS), she is an accredited dance/movement therapist with the American Dance Therapy Association. She taught eight years at York University and guest lectured at McMaster addressing medical students on the outcome of non-verbal interaction with patients. She also lectured at Ryerson and Waterloo Universities. As a researcher, she has studied parent/child interaction, speech stimulation and movement with the aging population. Melanie’s artistic training includes years of performing in music, dance, drama and voice on stage and television.
Christine Isherwood
Christine Isherwood, BA (Hons) UK, Singer-Songwriter, Dip. Assertiveness Trainer, VMT-R, is Director of the Training in Voice Movement Therapy USA. For the past 20 years she has been engaged in teaching Voice Movement Therapy, working with individual clients, teaching workshops internationally, and supervising VMT students and practitioners. Previous experience includes work with street homeless people in Central London, as a mental health counsellor, group facilitator and trainer. She has written and performed in political musicals, toured the UK and Europe with theatre groups and bands, and recorded on several albums.
David Jurasek, RP
David is a versatile and dynamic group facilitator and psychotherapist. He has a degree (UBC) and a past career in Filmmaking and he earned his MFA in Drama Therapy from Concordia University (Montreal). The last 8 years, he has been working at INTEGRA (C.D.I.), a mental health centre serving children, teens, and families with Learning Disabilities, as a Child and Family Clinician and Mindfulness Martial Arts Instructor. He is currently the founder, coordinator, and chief instructor of "Young Warriors" a therapeutic life skills program for tweens struggling with LD/MH issues. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Inspired Playback Theatre Co. (www.inspiredplayback.com) an improv theatre company dedicated to bringing to life and honouring the stories of diverse peoples who have not often been heard (like: refugees, survivors of trauma, children, seniors, and convicts). You can find out more about David here: www.davidjurasek.com
Norma Araiza, RP
Norma Araiza is a Performer/Choreographer/Instructor/Registered Psychotherapist of Yoeme (Yaqui) descend, originally from Mexico. She has studied different disciplines within the arts in order to find her own unique style that blends dance, theatre, vocals, percussion, and storytelling with cultural and traditional themes especially from her Indigenous background. She uses these modalities in her Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT) practice.
Norma has completed her Master's Degree in Dance Ethnology at York University, and graduated from the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at the CREATE Institute (former ISIS-Canada) in 2007. Since her graduation, Araiza has been lucky to work as an EXA therapist. She is currently working at Hospice Toronto as the EXAT Program Coordinator. Hospice Toronto focuses on clients with life threatening illnesses, palliative care, anticipatory grief, and grief and bereavement. However, there are many different loses in our society that Norma addresses with her clients. She facilitates sessions using Expressive Arts Therapy in groups and with individual clients in different settings such as hospitals, community centres, schools, non-profit organizations, etc. She also has a small private practice, and teaches all over the place!
She likes to be involved in the EXAT community to bring to it her expertise and her cultural approaches, as well as to learn from others. She is a board member of OEATA (Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association)
Norma has completed her Master's Degree in Dance Ethnology at York University, and graduated from the Expressive Arts Therapy Program at the CREATE Institute (former ISIS-Canada) in 2007. Since her graduation, Araiza has been lucky to work as an EXA therapist. She is currently working at Hospice Toronto as the EXAT Program Coordinator. Hospice Toronto focuses on clients with life threatening illnesses, palliative care, anticipatory grief, and grief and bereavement. However, there are many different loses in our society that Norma addresses with her clients. She facilitates sessions using Expressive Arts Therapy in groups and with individual clients in different settings such as hospitals, community centres, schools, non-profit organizations, etc. She also has a small private practice, and teaches all over the place!
She likes to be involved in the EXAT community to bring to it her expertise and her cultural approaches, as well as to learn from others. She is a board member of OEATA (Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association)
Ana Seara, RP
Ana Seara, RP, OATR is a registered psychotherapist, registered art therapist and clinical art therapy supervisor at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Hospital, within the Veteran Care Centre. She has worked here for over 18 years, with both the veteran and palliative populations. Primarily, Ana uses photography and video in her art therapy work with these populations. Ana is currently studying Nalanda Miksang Contemplative photography, and looks forward to incorporating these principles and modalities into her future work with patients, family members, and students. As well, Ana currently holds the positon of vice president with the Ontario Art Therapy Association.
Cathy Middleton, RP
Cathy is a graduate of the CREATE Institute – Expressive Arts Therapy program and is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO.) Cathy works within a trauma informed, harm reduction and person centered approach. Cathy has had a 30-year history working with women and families experiencing homelessness as well as women who are struggling with substance use and mental health issues.
Currently, Cathy is a Clinical Counsellor at Hospice of Waterloo Region working with people experiencing life-shortening illness; caregivers and those in bereavement, offering individual and group work.
Shara Claire, RP
Shara Claire, RP, MA, is a 2005 graduate from the CREATE 3-year program in expressive arts therapy. She acquired her MA in expressive arts therapy at the European Graduate School in Switzerland in 2018. She was Managing Editor of the POIESIS journal for 10 years, which championed new thought in the fields of expressive arts and media/communications. She has worked extensively with her mentor Elizabeth Gordon McKim, Poet Laureate of EGS, in selecting poetry from the journal and TA'ing alongside her. She often musically accompanies Elizabeth at her readings, using percussion and voice.
Shara's graduate work at EGS explored the intersection between spiritual retreat, or hermitage, and community devotional song practice. Meditation, poetry, and prayerful music are central to Shara's life and practice. She currently practices expressive arts therapy at the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre, and additionally has a small private practice in East Toronto.
Shara's graduate work at EGS explored the intersection between spiritual retreat, or hermitage, and community devotional song practice. Meditation, poetry, and prayerful music are central to Shara's life and practice. She currently practices expressive arts therapy at the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre, and additionally has a small private practice in East Toronto.
Roxanna Vahed, RP
As an Expressive Arts Therapist and Registered Social Worker (RSW) with over 10 years of experience. I am passionate about using creativity in service of healing. I have 20+ years of experience supporting the LGBTTQ2SIA+/Spectrum community as well as IBPOC communities through advocacy and mental health support. I currently work with youth (16+) and adults. My approach is informed by current research in neurobiology, mindfulness, creativity, resilience and trauma. I work in a non-pathologizing and strengths oriented way. I also facilitate workshops and trainings for professionals regarding applying trauma informed, intersectional approach to Expressive Arts Therapy with clients, as well as ways to integrate arts based interventions for self-care and clinical supervision.
I draw on various approaches to support the people I work with. I interweave neurobiology, body based/ somatic interventions and expressive arts therapy as well as ‘talk therapy’, through a resilience and trauma informed lense. I draw on various arts modalities/creativity to support people to become unstuck and to transform or learn to be with the experiences and challenges that bring them to seek therapy/ expressive arts therapy in the first place.
I draw on various approaches to support the people I work with. I interweave neurobiology, body based/ somatic interventions and expressive arts therapy as well as ‘talk therapy’, through a resilience and trauma informed lense. I draw on various arts modalities/creativity to support people to become unstuck and to transform or learn to be with the experiences and challenges that bring them to seek therapy/ expressive arts therapy in the first place.