Art therapy and expressive therapy combines art and psychology to provide a unique form of mental health counselling that can be an alternative to traditional western talk therapy.
Expressive therapy is for everyone, no matter your age, gender, background, or issues. “Expressive therapy” is an umbrella term that applies to art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, and play therapy. Tanya Negrey is an art therapist but some of our other therapists may have other specialties. Expressive therapy activities and exercises are not classes; they are about using creativity to facilitate growth, healing, and change, and to improve mental wellness.
“Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behaviour and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. ”
If you’re not finding the change, growth or healing that you need for your mental health through traditional talk therapy, art therapy might be the answer for you. For some people, art therapy can circumvent months of talk therapy, giving participants a way to get at the heart of the matter without feeling threatened or uncomfortable. Art therapy techniques can be applied to a range of issues, including youth counselling, grief and loss counselling, trauma counselling, domestic violence survivors, depression, and drug addiction.
At Tanya Negrey & Associates Art & Expressive Therapies, our approach is client-centred — you’re in charge of your own growth and progress, and we provide professional guidance. We meet you where you’re at, and you determine where you want to go. We help you identify what your strengths are, and help you use those strengths to enhance your quality of life. Based in Saskatoon, Sask., we serve clients and groups within the city, and we are able to travel elsewhere in the province to deliver our services.
We are First Nations approved therapists
We offer mental health support services for Indigenous people including for residential school survivors. As an alternative to western counselling approaches, art therapy aligns well with Indigenous culture, spirituality, and ways of knowing.