​In additional to various talk therapies and counselling services, our team provides a diverse range of individual and group-based experiential interventions. These services are specifically targeted at individuals who are already receiving services from the Trauma Centre with one of our therapists. The purpose of our experiential approaches is to complement and enhance convention approaches to treatment.
​Equine-Assisted Therapy
Equine Facilitated Therapy provides experiential interactions with horses that allow participants to gain greater self-awareness and understanding. Horses are able to sense a busy mind, unacknowledged thoughts and feelings as well as reveal involuntary responses. Through reflection, therapist and participant develop new coping strategies; identify personal space and non-verbal communication to establish and maintain healthier boundaries; experience a connection without any expectations or judgement; and increase mindfulness, self-awareness and intuitive knowing.  No prior experiences with horses is necessary. 
Therapy horse provides support and unconditional love to first responders...See Susan Hay's story on Global News:  https://globalnews.ca/video/10961244/therapy-horse-provides-support-and-unconditional-love-to-first-responders/


Relational HealingWhen it comes to healing from trauma, especially the kind that first responders face, seeking help can feel like a sign of weakness. But the truth is, asking for support is one of the bravest things you can do. Equine-facilitated therapy offers a nonjudgmental space where you can begin to heal without fear of stigma or criticism.
​https://horsesensenorth.com/blog/2025/3/30/relational-healing-what-it-means-and-how-it-applies-to-first-responders​


​FEEL Alumni:   Click here                                                         
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First Responder Support Groups
This specialized support program is for emergency services personnel to focus on PTSD and other co-morbid conditions such as anxiety and depression.  Each 12 week program is specialized for each emergency responder profession.  These groups are an effective way to provide a comfort level for treatment where participants gain acceptance and reduce the stigma around mental health.  Clients are among peers and facilitation of group topics is led by a clinician to ensure safety and that treatment goals are met. 
Art Therapy 
As a parent or caregiver, you want to support your child and help them express and process their feelings in a healthy way. For children and teens, art therapy offers a safe and non-verbal way to explore and communicate their thoughts and emotions. Through drawing, painting, sculpting, and other forms of artistic expression, children can externalize what they may find difficult to articulate verbally. Many adults, children and teens experience wonderful transformation through the art-making process, whether they’ve had art experience or not. Art therapists works with adults, couples, youth, children, families and groups in a variety of settings. They provide a safe, judgement-free space for clients to express themselves. 
Benefits of Art Therapy for Children
  1. Emotional Expression: Art allows children to express complex feelings such as sadness, anger, confusion, and even relief in a tangible form. This process can be incredibly validating and empowering for them.
  2. Sense of Control: During a time of significant change, children may feel a loss of control over their lives. Engaging in art therapy gives them a sense of agency as they choose colors, materials, and subjects that resonate with them.
  3. Processing Grief and Loss: Life changes such as relocating, immigration, parental separation or divorce, loss of a loved one, chronic illness, etc. often involves feelings of grief for children, not just of the family unit but also of routine and stability. Art therapy helps them navigate these feelings of grief and begin to heal.
  4. Improving Communication: Some children may find it challenging to talk about their emotions directly. Art therapy provides an alternative means of communication that can bridge this gap, facilitating better understanding between child and therapist or parent.
  5. Building Self-Esteem: Successfully creating art can boost a child’s confidence and self-esteem, especially if they are facing difficult circumstances in other areas of their life, for eg., bullying.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Art Therapy:Neurodivergent children, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, dyslexia, and other developmental differences, often experience unique challenges in navigating the world around them. While traditional therapeutic approaches are valuable, art therapy offers neurodivergent children a safe and versatile means of creative expression and sensory engagement. Here’s how:
1. Facilitating Communication
Art therapy provides a non-verbal avenue for children who may struggle with verbal expression. Art allows children to communicate through images, colors, and textures, bypassing language barriers and offering therapists and caregivers insights into their inner worlds.
2. Sensory Integration and Regulation
Many neurodivergent children experience sensory sensitivities or difficulties with regulation. Engaging in art-making activities can help regulate sensory input, providing a calming effect or stimulating sensory exploration depending on the child’s needs. The tactile nature of art materials can also promote sensory integration and enhance proprioceptive feedback.
3. Building Self-Esteem and Confidence
Success in art therapy activities can significantly boost a child’s self-esteem. When children see their ideas come to life on paper or canvas, it validates their creativity and abilities. Art therapy encourages a focus on strengths, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride in their artistic achievements.
4. Emotional Expression and Coping Skills
Art provides a safe outlet for children to express complex emotions they may find challenging to verbalize. Whether it’s using colors to convey mood or creating symbolic representations of their feelings, art therapy allows children to process and manage their emotions constructively. This emotional regulation can have a positive ripple effect on their overall well-being and behavior.
5. Enhancing Social Skills
Collaborative art activities in group settings can improve social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, and cooperation. Art therapy groups provide a supportive environment where children can learn to interact with peers, build relationships, and practice empathy through shared creative experiences.
Art Therapy for Families:In a family setting, art therapists guide family members through arts-based activities designed to enhance communication, express feelings, and build stronger connections.
Benefits of Art Therapy for Families:
  1. Enhanced Communication: Art therapy provides a non-verbal medium for family members to express thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to articulate verbally. This can lead to deeper understanding and empathy among family members.
  2. Conflict Resolution: When tensions arise within a family, art therapy can serve as a safe space to explore underlying issues and find constructive ways to address conflicts. Artistic expression can help diffuse tension and encourage collaborative problem-solving.
  3. Stress Reduction: Engaging in creative activities can be inherently calming and therapeutic. Art therapy sessions can reduce stress levels for both children and adults, fostering a more harmonious family environment.
  4. Building Bonds: Creating art together can strengthen familial bonds by promoting shared experiences and collaborative efforts. It allows family members to see each other in a new light and appreciate each other’s unique perspectives.
  5. Emotional Expression and Processing: Art therapy encourages family members to express complex emotions, such as grief, anger, or joy, in a safe and supportive environment. This process aids in emotional healing and promotes resilience.
What happens in an art therapy session?
Art therapy sessions typically begin with a warm and welcoming environment. Clients have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions they may have before starting the session. Before diving into art-making, the therapist may spend some time getting to know the client and presenting concerns. This could involve discussing your background, goals for therapy, and what you hope to achieve through art therapy. Building a trusting relationship is essential for the therapeutic process.
The core of an art therapy session revolves around the art-making process itself. Depending on your preferences and therapeutic goals, you may work with various art materials such as paints, clay, markers, collage materials, or even digital art tools. The therapist will guide you through different art exercises or techniques designed to help you explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Art therapy encourages you to express yourself creatively without the pressure of producing aesthetically pleasing artwork. The focus is on the process of creation rather than the final product. You might create images, symbols, or abstract representations that reflect your feelings or experiences. As you create art, the therapist may ask open-ended questions to explore your thoughts and feelings about your artwork. This reflective process helps deepen your understanding of yourself, gain insights into your emotions, and uncover underlying issues that may be difficult to express verbally.
Throughout the session, the therapist helps you connect the insights gained from art-making to your personal growth and therapeutic goals. Art therapy encourages self-discovery and empowers you to find meaning in your creative expressions. Towards the end of the session, there is time for closure and reflection. You may discuss what you experienced during the session, insights gained, and any emotions that surfaced. The therapist may provide guidance on how to carry forward the discoveries made in therapy into your daily life. Before concluding the session, you and your therapist may discuss plans for future sessions, goals to work towards, and any homework assignments or reflections to consider between sessions. This continuity supports ongoing progress and integration of therapeutic insights.
How does online art therapy work?
Online Art Therapy is very similar to in-person art therapy, however the difference is that you get to experience it from the comfort of your home. You may need to bring your own art materials to the session, or you may receive an “art kit” sent to you by me. Online art therapy sessions are hosted through a secure video conferencing platform that is compliant with the standards set by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
How does Walk and Talk Art Therapy work?Walk and Talk Art Therapy merges traditional art therapy with walking sessions, allowing clients to engage in creative processes while moving through natural environments. This approach leverages the therapeutic benefits of both walking and art-making, creating a space where clients can explore their inner worlds while physically interacting with their surroundings. It incorporates elements of mindfulness, somatic therapies as well as eco-art approaches which is centered around using nature and natural materials in the art making process. 
Before a Walk and Talk Art Therapy session, you’ll discuss with your therapist what to expect and any specific goals or themes you want to explore. The session typically begins at a designated meeting spot. Your therapist will explain the structure of the session and discuss any practical details, such as where you’ll be walking and what materials you might need. During the walk, or at designated stops, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in art-making activities. This might involve using portable art supplies to create sketches, drawings, or other forms of art inspired by your surroundings or your internal reflections. After the walk, you’ll have time to reflect on the experience. This might involve discussing the artwork created, exploring how the walk influenced your thoughts and emotions, and considering any insights or revelations that emerged.​
Mindfullness 101
In recent decades, researchers have been learning that Mindfulness not only helps us live healthier lives, but reduces emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, and anger; helps with sleep difficulties; improves concentration, memory, and immune system function; and generates changes in our brain that helps to counteract the problems in thinking we start to experience as we age.  This program will assist you to understand that mindfulness is and how it can help with depression, anxiety, anger, chronic pain, low self-esteem, posttraumatic stress disorder and other emotional difficulties.
 Practical mindfulness exercises and other concrete skills are taught to assist in  improving the quality of life.
 Mindfulness 101 is offered two to three times yearly and is open to individuals aged 16 and over.  Click here
​Our team provides interventions including education, training, stress management, and other therapeutic supports to emergency response teams following critical incidents. These interventions include a structured approach to supporting emergency responders in an effort to reduce the potential immediate and long term impact of trauma.