Adjunct Faculty
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)
Gary Diggins
Gary Diggins has maintained a private practice as an expressive arts practitioner for over four decades. His work blends sound therapy with cognitive practices such as mindfulness. As an educator, Gary has taught at various learning institutes and universities. Gary’s has written four books related to music and deep listening. His most recent guidebook, 565 pages in length, is entitled Soundwork as Soulwork – Cultivating Wellbeing through Sonic Rituals.
For over a decade, Gary worked for Mindfulness Without Borders and supported communities affected by conflict in Rwanda, Uganda, and Nigeria. In Canada, he contributed to music and mindfulness programs with organizations ranging from the Toronto Catholic District School Board to the York Regional Police Department.
Gary performs as a cornet player and multi-instrumentalist. He plays a range of acoustic instruments collected from around the world and has contributed to dozens of recordings and film scores. His musical collaborations have taken him to India, Israel, Europe, South Korea, and throughout North America. Gary and his family recently moved to a rural property near Meaford, Ontario where he conducts private sessions and hosts workshops.
For over a decade, Gary worked for Mindfulness Without Borders and supported communities affected by conflict in Rwanda, Uganda, and Nigeria. In Canada, he contributed to music and mindfulness programs with organizations ranging from the Toronto Catholic District School Board to the York Regional Police Department.
Gary performs as a cornet player and multi-instrumentalist. He plays a range of acoustic instruments collected from around the world and has contributed to dozens of recordings and film scores. His musical collaborations have taken him to India, Israel, Europe, South Korea, and throughout North America. Gary and his family recently moved to a rural property near Meaford, Ontario where he conducts private sessions and hosts workshops.
Terri Roberton, RP, ExAT, BFA, MLIS
Terri Roberton is immersed in the arts from various angles having practiced painting, illustration and animation for many years. She helped steward the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association as Vice-President since 2009, and as president since 2015. She has an interest in arts-based research and has guest lectured at George Brown College and Ryerson University. In 2010 she presented her graphic story research in the poster session at the Health Equity Conference held at Ryerson, and in 2011 was subsequently invited to give a presentation at the Annual Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing Research Symposium.
Trained as a visual artist, Terri continues to develop her skills in all the arts. Bridging isolation with connection though the arts is the backbone of her practice. Clients served: All ages, all abilities, LGBTQQ2SIAAPPSW+ . In compliance with OEATA and CRPO professional development expectations, Terri has pursued additional training in the following areas: Clinical Supervision, Improvisational theatre, Ceramics, American Sign Language Level II, Yoga, Mindfulness, Voice work, Women’s Counselling Referral and Education Centre (WCREC) Anti-Oppression and Feminist Facilitator Training Program, 2011.
Trained as a visual artist, Terri continues to develop her skills in all the arts. Bridging isolation with connection though the arts is the backbone of her practice. Clients served: All ages, all abilities, LGBTQQ2SIAAPPSW+ . In compliance with OEATA and CRPO professional development expectations, Terri has pursued additional training in the following areas: Clinical Supervision, Improvisational theatre, Ceramics, American Sign Language Level II, Yoga, Mindfulness, Voice work, Women’s Counselling Referral and Education Centre (WCREC) Anti-Oppression and Feminist Facilitator Training Program, 2011.