Michelle is currently working with students on topics such anxiety, ADHD, family traumas, and friendship conflicts. Clients are encouraged to explore their emotional and physical wellbeing through the usage of all art forms: visual arts, movement, writing and poetry, sounds, and drama. There is no need for any arts experience from the clients in order for them to gain the benefits of this therapeutic practice. The space is created for them to be present with themselves and to see what they need in the moment to become aware, to hold space for, and to heal for themselves. In order to deepen the experience, she may offer gentle suggestions that they can accept or refuse. For example, this can be a suggestion of using different notes or rhythms in sound, or trying different colours for their art work. Having a deep connection with nature and spirituality, I may also offer grounding meditative practices, breath works, or walks that include artistic components.

Everything is done at the clients’ pace and the sessions are about the creative process rather than in the resulting artworks. By looking at the journey, the client will be focused on how they feel during the making of their art. For example, How does it feel as you move your fingers across the keyboard? What does the texture of the paint feel like as you move it across the page? What would you like to have more of in this work? Through these explorations, clients will be able to gain self-awareness, discover and try new things for themselves, find their voice, improve on communication of their emotions, build trust with themselves and others, heal wounds, and have tools for grounding themselves.

This program is for a diverse population of children experiencing emotional distress or for parents who wish to provide a non-pressure and exploratory approach to the arts. Your child will learn tools for processing and expressing emotions and ideas in a positive and creative way.

Multimodal therapy/Integrated arts approach involves two or more expressive therapies to foster awareness, encourage emotional growth, and enhance relationships with others. Intermodal therapy distinguishes itself from its closely allied disciplines of art therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, and drama therapy by being grounded in the interrelatedness of the arts.

Art therapy makes use of visual arts material, along with utilizing commonly available material in creative ways, which helps an individual engage with their emotions and thoughts in a space outside their body. It is a therapeutic means of dealing with emotional conflicts, fostering self-awareness, developing social skills, managing behaviour, solving problems, reducing anxiety, aiding reality orientation, and increasing self-esteem (American Art Therapy Association, 2004).

Music therapy uses music to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems (American Music Therapy Association, 2004).

Dance/ Movement therapy is based on the premise that the body and mind are interrelated. It is defined as the psychotherapeutic use of movement and as a process that furthers the emotional, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual. Dance/movement therapy effects changes in feelings, cognition, physical functioning, and behaviour (National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations, 2004b).