Search

Dianne Shannon Art Therapy

creation + reflection + insight = change

Open Search
Tag

art therapy

CADDRA, ADHD, and art therapy

I’m pleased to share that I’m now a member of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA) made up of physicians, psychologists, allied health care professionals, and researchers interested in ADHD. CADDRA’s education, guidelines, advocacy, and research will help me better support people with ADHD.

People of all ages come to art therapy with big issues disrupting how they would rather live their lives, and many either know they have ADHD or think it’s a possibility. That’s why I joined CADDRA. Relationship troubles, addictions, anxiety, low self-esteem and self-worth, dangerous or difficult behaviour, not doing as well as expected at work or school can all be part of the ADHD experience.

Art therapy is engaging and helpful for people with ADHD because creativity:

  • is a physically active process
  • exercises executive functioning (like the process to create a collage!)
    • planning, organization, starting tasks, focusing, managing time, problem solving, and controlling emotions
  • does not rely on words to communicate
  • externalizes emotions and experiences
  • anchors strengths-based accomplishments in the object that’s made
    • sense of self-mastery
    • improved self-awareness and understanding
    • a concrete record of progress
  • provides tools for self-regulation and stress relief
  • strengthens fine and gross motor skills

I’m looking forward to weaving what I learn through CADDRA into my art therapy practice.

0

Art therapy: not just a tool in the tool box

I’ve been searching online therapy platforms like Psychology Today for art therapists and see profiles of people offering art therapy without having the training. Art-based activities can be a helpful tool in a mental health professional’s tool box, but you’re not getting art therapy unless the therapist’s/counsellor’s qualifications include an art therapy program like those approved by the Canadian Art Therapy Association.

0

Community and creativity with OUT Saskatoon

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.

0

Creative feast to nourish the soul

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.

https://sites.google.com/view/women-in-the-woods/home

0

World art therapy conference 2025

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

0

Potential funding for art therapy in Saskatchewan schools

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.

https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/education-and-learning/prek-12-education-early-learning-and-schools/teacher-innovation-and-support-fund#further-information

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/

reducedanxietyofbullyingvictimsDownload
0

Dianne Shannon Art Therapy on Facebook

Follow my Facebook page for activities, recommendations, client news, shares from community FB pages, practice updates, kudos to other Saskatchewan art therapists, and more.

https://www.facebook.com/

0

Grief Symposium update

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.

0

Cancer and art therapy

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.

https://www.swedish.org/services/cancer-institute/our-services/complementary-therapies/art-therapy https://www.lbbc.org/blog/why-art-therapy-such-powerful-tool

AATA outcomes-based research bibliography: Cancer and art therapy (pdf)

aatacancerandarttherapybibliographyDownload
0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑