Art of Transformation
Expressive Arts Therapist & Expressive Arts Facilitator

Description: I work with children, youth and adults with difficulties that include mental health, early childhood trauma, autism, and stress related issues. Also, people in helping roles, such as therapists, social workers and caretakers/parents, find sessions and workshops beneficial. They say it helps them to relax, develop new coping tools and leave sessions inspired for their own work.
I usually start with a free of charge preliminary session, and find very diverse needs regarding the frequency of meetings. Some choose to see me weekly, others once a month, or whenever needed.
I work out of my studio in St Catharines and offer workshops across the Niagara Region. They include mask making, clowning, sculpting, as well as inter-modal expressive arts, involving music-making, movement, sculpting, collage, drawing and painting.
I volunteer at the mental health wing of the local hospital and find it satisfying to see how much the clients get out of the experience. Some reconnect with their art explorations in the past, while others who never considered themselves creative are surprised to find deep relaxation and satisfaction.

Credentials:
  • Expressive Arts Therapy diploma, ISIS Canada (2008)
  • Diploma from Arscura - School for Exploration and Development of Art in the Healing and Social Fields, Toronto (2005)
  • In private practice in St Catharines and Niagara Region since 2009
  • Teaching clowning at the Living Institute (Toronto)

Additional Training:
Canada
  • Artist-Educator Skill Development, Royal Conservatory Ontario (30 hours)
  • Clown Through Mask Workshop with Sue Morrison, Toronto
  • Biography Studies with Arscura, Toronto
  • Certified Courses in child and infant behavior and therapy, at the Hincks-Dellcrest Gail Appel Institute, Toronto
Switzerland
  • Two summers at the European Graduate School, Saas Fee
  • Clowning, theatre improvisation and mask-play courses at Dimitri School, Verscio
Northern Ireland
  • Training as a circus skills teacher at the Belfast Community Circus School
  • Community Development, Ulster University
  • Community Relations, Ulster University

Professional Affiliations:
  • IEATA - International Expressive Arts Therapy Association
  • OACCPP - Ontario Association of Consultants, Counselors, Psychometrists, and Psychotherapists

Population served: Children, youth, adults and seniors

Areas of expertise & experience:
  • Mental health
  • Developmental difficulties
  • Stress management for people in helping professions
  • Life-transitions
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Behavioral difficulties

Languages: English and German

Arts practice:
  • Painting
  • Sculpting in clay and sandstone
  • Clowning
  • Circus skills like juggling and unicycling
  • Making and working with masks
  • Music making

Location: St Catharines, the Niagara Region and sometimes beyond.

Contact: