The Newcomer Support Group at OUT Saskatoon welcomed me to spend two evenings enjoying creativity and community. Participants who now call Saskatoon home dove into the altered book activity I delivered by painting, collaging, tearing, and reshaping pages in response to the directive of exploring their journey here. Thanks to everyone for sharing experiences of identity, resilience, hope, and family that were expressed in the art and discussion.
Join art therapist, artist, friend Chrystene Ells and Xstine Cook for an immersive, nature-based, creative experience August 21-25 just south of Saskatoon.
“Connect with nature and your inner wilderness through mythic archetypes, mask making with natural materials, and therapeutic art practices…this retreat extends an invitation to explore the potential potency of aging and menopause through creative reflection and shared exchange. “
Space is limited to 8 participants.
Over the next three weekends I’m looking forward to learning more about art therapy and: neuroscience; grief, death, and loss; materials and techniques. Check out the impressive speakers who are presenting. And it’s free! https://www.artstherapies.org/course/world-art-therapy-conference-2025
The province’s Teacher Innovation and Support Fund is available for initiatives to improve student and teacher wellness, student achievement, and school safety. What a great opportunity for teachers to bring art therapy to schools in support of student mental health! Find an art therapist near you to team up for accessible, developmentally responsive, and trauma-informed student supports.
Bringing art therapy to schools reduces barriers to access supports and offers opportunities to do groups with peers who share common experiences. I’ve delivered groups in schools for children who witness violence, newcomer children and youth, high-risk youth in care, bullying behaviours as well as individual art therapy sessions.
Here’s a link to videos on my site about the benefits of art therapy in schools: https://dianneshannonarttherapy.ca/about-art-therapy/#:~:text=Art%20Therapy%20in%20Schools
Here are some of the many examples when you do an “art therapy in schools” online search:
https://thrivealliancegroup.com/art-therapy-improves-mental-health-and-behavior-at-school/
https://arttherapy.org/art-therapy-helps-children-make-sense-of-the-insensible/
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Two days of presentations through the Children’s Grief Awareness Symposium provided concrete tools and relevant information, so glad I took part! Feeling fortunate to have more tools in my tool box to support grieving children and youth. Topics I attended were about the death of a sibling or parent, the complexities of children’s grief, grief experiences of Indigenous youth, how grief presents in very young children, grief in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, and understanding anticipatory grief.
Many friends and family over the past few years have been confronted with a cancer diagnosis and treatment, so I decided to go through the American Art Therapy Association’s outcomes-based research bibliography for information about art therapy’s efficacy for cancer patients. The articles I found are listed in the attached pdf file for those of you who are also interested. A Google search of “cancer and art therapy” will also bring up many, many examples of art therapy in cancer treatment.
Studies show that virtual therapy can be just as effective as seeing a therapist in person. And it can be easier to connect with a therapist if you don’t have to go to their office or you live in a remote location. For virtual art therapy sessions you can use any materials or objects you have on hand, like the examples in the photos above. If you don’t have access to art supplies or a dollar store that has inexpensive materials, I can ship a kit to you.
The process is the same as in-person sessions: beginning with a check in, choosing and using materials to make something, then discussing what it was like to use the materials and what you notice in what you’ve made. We’ll explore how your insights from our discussion increase your self-awareness, reduce or shift symptoms and/or perceptions, and inform how you can work toward the changes you want in your life.
As with all online therapy, a quiet place with no interruptions is important. I use the NousTalk therapy platform that provides secure, encrypted sessions.
Book a complimentary meeting to find out more: https://dianneshannonarttherapy.noustalk.com/contactme
RCAT-S, CRPO-RP (qualifying)
Art therapy is a way to explore issues, concerns, and strategies for change using the creative process that does not rely on words to be helpful. The questions I ask about how and what you’ve made lead to insights that increase your self-knowledge and inform the steps you want to take toward positive change. My therapeutic approaches include psychodynamic, humanistic, and strengths-based.
You do not need to be an artist to do art therapy. You use materials on hand to make spontaneous art or to do creative activities I suggest based on the concerns that brought you to art therapy. You can make scribbles, stick figures, swirls of colour, collage images, clay shapes, glitter and paint on wood, etc. Can’t imagine what virtual art therapy would be like? Check out my blog post: https://dianneshannonarttherapy.ca/2020/12/06/healing-with-virtual-art-therapy/
Virtual sessions are available, and for Ontario residents, many health insurance providers cover session costs.
In-person outreach sessions where I bring art therapy to you in the Saskatoon area for groups and individuals.
Art therapy supervision is offered to art therapists working towards CATA registration or for registered art therapists.
Request a free virtual meeting https://dianneshannonarttherapy.noustalk.com/contactme or contact me by phone or email for more information.
I acknowledge and am grateful for the Treaty Six Territory and Métis nation homeland on which I live and work.
Dianne Shannon Art Therapy 