Art Therapy
In-person Art Therapy in Toronto, and Virtual throughout Ontario
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and stuck — and not sure where to begin.
Art Therapy is a space to slow down, a place to help you understand what you're feeling, and care for the parts of you that need support — with creative tools and therapeutic guidance.
Hi, I’m Pearl — a registered psychotherapist and art therapist based in Toronto.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck, art therapy can offer a gentle and creative way to explore what’s going on inside — no art skills needed.
Sessions are available both in-person at my Toronto office, and virtually across Ontario.
What is Art Therapy?
So much happens in our minds, and art therapy provides the avenue to access our subconscious mind visually. This allows us to look at it from a different perspective to understand, organize, and build a better relationship with it.
Art Therapy combines psychotherapy and the creative process of artmaking. For me, I use art therapy through the lens of narrative therapy, IFS (internal family system), mindfulness and client-centred therapy.
No artistic experience is needed. It’s not about the quality of the art but the process and using it as an outlet to see your inner world.
Who do I work with?
I provide art therapy services to adults across Toronto and Ontario who:
are looking for ways to manage, cope and build a healthier relationship with anxiety.
are dealing with the impact of past trauma and looking for a way to process and heal.
wants to break the negative self-talk cycle (a harsh inner critic).
are looking for a creative outlet for your thoughts and emotions to reflect and grow.
wants to connect deeper with their authentic self.
wants to find more alignment and ease in their life.
What to expect in an Art Therapy session?
We’ll usually start by checking in to see how you’ve been doing since the last time we saw each other and to determine what you’d like to focus on for the session.
I’ll then give you an art directive to work on to help you explore the topic of the session more deeply. This can take 2 minutes to 25 minutes, depending on the directive and how you feel that day. We can talk and draw, or you can entirely focus on the process.
We’ll then reconnect and reflect on the process and the artwork. For example, how did you feel while drawing that part, what came up while you were drawing, etc.
*It also works if you’d like to draw and talk. Art helps your regulate, and it makes it easier to access the subconscious mind.
Art Therapy FAQ
-
$175 for 50 mins per session (covered by most insurance plan that covers psychotherapy in Ontario)
In - person at 1235 Bay Street, Suite 509, Toronto, across the street from Bay station. Tue (12 pm to 6:30pm) & Sat (10am to 3pm)
Virtual- Through Jane app, you don’t need to download anything extra on a laptop/ desktop. Tue, Wed, Thu (12 pm to 6:30 pm) & Sat (10 am to 3 pm)
-
Art helps us externalize our inner thoughts and feelings, which can help us gain a different perspective and control over what we cannot see.
The process can be cathartic, allowing us to release our emotions in a safe place.
The process of artmaking can also help with stress relief.
Art can help us connect to our sense of safety, which is an important component of healing.
Art helps us slow down our thought process and helps introduce a different way of thinking to break out of our usual patterns.
-
Not at all! Art Therapy is more about the process of artmaking than it is about the techniques or products.
We’ll start with some small exercises to familiarize you with the art materials, and then slowly, you’ll find your own expression.
-
How often- I suggest starting with six sessions and planning to have the first few sessions weekly or bi-weekly (depending on your schedule and finances) to get to know each other and set the premise and pace for our work together.
After that, we can set a schedule aligned with your goals.
How many - It depends on what you are looking to gain from art therapy. Some people come for 6-12 sessions to work on a focused topic. Some see this as a long-term self-care, a place to reflect and grow.
-
Art therapists complete a master-level diploma programme, which includes learning how to apply different psychotherapy techniques to art therapy, a research thesis / significant project, and hands-on practice at different practicum sites. I attended the Toronto Art Therapy Institute.
-
Just one or two coloured art materials will do. Choose what you’re most comfortable with.
If you’re not sure what you’re comfortable with, I suggest start with oil pastel or colour pencil to start.
-
I don’t interpret your artwork like, ‘Oh, you drew your image in the center, so it means you’re self-centred.’
In our session, I will guide you, using my experience and curiosity, to help you better understand your artwork and your thoughts and emotions.
Let’s Connect
If you’re curious about how art therapy can be helpful to you support your mental health. Let’s chat! This is simply a chance for us to connect, answer any questions you have about art therapy, and see if working together feels like a good fit.