Art Haven Therapy

The importance of HEALING ✨️

If you think art therapy may be beneficial for your healing journey, get in touch today!

Email: [email protected]
Website: arthaventherapy.com
Call or Text: 1-855-755-1118

Quote by Kayil York

As Art Haven Therapy continues to grow, I LOVE LOVE LOVE adding new art options for my clients! Introducing stamps (with more colored ink pads coming soon)!

How adorable is this mixed media sculpture?! 🐢

This ancient Sanskrit symbol popped up on my social feed recently.

What a wonderful reminder to do what comes naturally. Breathe. It's the first thing we do when we come into this world, and the last thing we do when we leave it.

The difference between "I am hurt" and "A part of me is hurting"
Image: The Serene Factor

This massive ART QUILT was created using various artworks from a group I facilitated last year with Long-Term Care residents.

We arranged these images to showcase and exhibit our art therapy group journey!

Or make art about it in art therapy!

Only 2 more weeks until the Managing Anxiety with Art Therapy IN-PERSON Workshop!

Register Here: https://forms.gle/zjwx7YTh2QKoYoRy9

Finger Puppets & Fidget Toys!

What is your favourite element? 💧WATER 🔥FIRE 💨AIR 🌏EARTH

What about SPACE 💫 I've practiced meditations where this is considered an element too! What do you think?

Currently welcoming new clients! Self-refer!
Connect today: [email protected] or arthaventherapy.com

One month to go!! Only a few spots left!!
Sign up now: https://forms.gle/zjwx7YTh2QKoYoRy9

Art Therapy is for EVERYONE! Toddlers, children, teens, adults and seniors! Get in touch today if you're in need of support! 👶 👧 👩 👩‍🦳 👵

DOT MARKERS! A.K.A Bingo Dabbers! 🔴 🟠 🟡 🟢 🔵 🟣
I'm excited to see my Clients explore these new art materials!

This is ONE OF THE MANY WAYS that art therapy can be beneficial for your mental health and wellness! Creativity accesses the right side of your brain, and can aid in self-discovery!

Newest addition to the art therapy space: Ivy Wall! 🌿

This office doesn't have a window, so I'm not able to have real plants. BUT I'm very thankful for fake greenery!

Photography can be a useful tool in art therapy! 🌺🌅

This is a digital Soul Collage that I created in school combining two photographs I took: a beach sunset and an orange flower!

ANXIETY WORKSHOP ALERT 🚨✨
Art Haven Therapy is excited to announce the first IN-PERSON group at our new(ish) location in Kitchener, Ontario.

Register Here: https://forms.gle/zjwx7YTh2QKoYoRy9
Limited Space Available!

RESPONSE ART 🐚

Inspiration is everywhere! Recently, a Client shared she has been struggling with art making, so I suggested she try response art! It's very easy, and anyone can do it. Start by finding something you can respond to; it can be basically anything (a photograph, person, object, film, song, place, podcast, Tedtalk, nature, etc.)

Now respond and allow yourself to create an artwork that is inspired by it! And remembers, there is no right or wrong way make response art!

Love love love this quote by Maryann F. Kohl! Art therapy can be so beneficial for children and youth. It may help them in developing independence, autonomy, self-confidence and so much more!

When you create art, you're giving life and expression to your thoughts and feelings. Art making in session can sometimes help you to feel as free, and lighten any mental heaviness you're experiencing.

What are the hats you wear?

This invitation can be helpful for identifying what roles and responsibilities you have in your life, and perhaps why your may feel so overwhelmed. Often, we can feel like the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland when we wear a lot of hats.
Are you a daughter, son, brother, sister, mother or father?
Are you a partner, spouse, friend or pet owner?
Are you a student, mentor, worker or earner?

By recognizing the roles you have, you may better understand your feelings of overwhelm and stress. You can identify your responsibilities, areas within your control and jobs you are managing.

One of the main goals in therapy is having an outlet to feel your emotions. And in art therapy, we create art so we can see your feelings visually. When you are able to express your emotions, it becomes easier to understand them, and yourself.

Create a MOOD SPIRAL to express how you're currently feeling. Choose colors and illustrate your mood in the form of a spiral. Ask yourself:
🔸 What colors did you choose and why?
🔸 What is the direction of your spiral? Is it moving inwards or outwards?

This is a great check-in exercise we use in art therapy to assess how you are coming into our space.

Inspiration for art can be found anywhere! This interesting work was a response to the poem Walk Slowly by Danna Faulds:

It only takes a reminder to breathe,
a moment to be still, and just like that,
something in me settles, softens, makes
space for imperfection. The harsh voice
of judgment drops to a whisper and I
remember again that life isn’t a relay
race; that we will all cross the finish
line; that waking up to life is what we
were born for. As many times as I forget,
catch myself charging forward
without even knowing where I’m going,
that many times I can make the choice
to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk
slowly into the mystery.

Appreciate yourself for the hardships you've conquered. Recognize the times you've prevailed, even when you thought you wouldn't.

GROUNDED & UNGROUNDED

What does it feel like when you're grounded? For me, it's feeling a connection to the earth, to nature, and to the present moment.

How do you feel when you're ungrounded? To me, it's feeling like I'm holding a bouquet of balloons and floating aimlessly in the clouds.

What does feeling grounded and ungrounded look like for you? How would you express this in an artwork?

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Support Bill C-218 & get rid of this GST/HST for all mental health services! Therapy should be tax free!
Sign the parliamentary petition here - https://www.taxfreetherapy.ca

Happy New Year!! 🎇🎊🥳🎉🎆 Wishing you a...
Jolly January & Flourishing February
Merry March & Artful April
Marvellous May, Joyous June & July
Amazing August & Safe September
Outstanding October, Nourishing November & Dazzling December!

**Beautiful artwork by Ary Mari

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe and healthy holiday season!
🎄❄️🎁⛄

Art Haven Therapy will be closed from December 20, 2022 to January 2, 2023. Messages may be checked periodically over the holidays, and sessions will resume in the New Year.

These characters were created with my eyes closed, working the clay until they felt "finished". The sculpture on the left is called Mona, and the one of the right is named Owlette.

I wanted to share that the clay I used was bought at Dollarama! Remember, you don't always need the fanciest or most expensive art materials to create! Often a dollar store can be gold mine for supplies, and are usually affordable and accessible.

A Garden & A Fence
This art invitation can be used as a metaphor for exploring your boundaries and current needs.
Notice the type of fence you choose to illustrate: Is there a gate? Or an opening? What is the fence made of? How tall is it? Asking these questions can offer some insight into your boundaries.
Pay attention to the type of garden you create: Is it kept and weeded? Or wild? Are fruits and vegetables growing? Or flowers and plants? Being curious about these questions can provide some understanding into your current needs.

When working with an art therapist, we ask questions like these to foster self-discover, exploration and understanding.

This is the Mindful S.T.O.P. Technique 🛑
Use it to practice awareness, while noticing, observing, and understanding your needs in the present moment.

DRAWING YOUR BREATH 😮‍💨 💨
Start by focusing on your breathing, without changing the pace or rhythm. Visualize your breath, and draw it on the page. This can be a helpful exercise for relaxation, mindfulness and grounding.

It's important to express your struggles and trauma, because holding onto them will get very heavy. This expression can come in the form of talking, art making, singing, creating and dancing, to name a few.

Where is your most favourite place in the world??
This was my very first artwork that I created at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, so it holds a special place in my heart. Before this invitation, I had never thought of / identified where my favourite place was. I used my preferred art materials (oil pastels) and illustrated a sunset on a beach. For me, listening to the waves, feeling the sand in my toes and smelling the fresh air makes it my favourite place.

One year ago today, Art Haven Online Therapy Services launched 🎉
A message from founder & art therapist, Ally Dunphy: I would have never dreamed of how much this business would grow within the first year. When I started, I was still a student who had finished my coursework, and was completing my Major Project. I did not take a single business course in all of my studies, but I had ambition and wanted to create a career for myself. Then in July 2022, I graduated and received my Diploma from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. This entire journey has changed my life, and offered me an abundance of growth, as well as challenges to navigate along the way.
Two months ago, I opened an office space for my private practice, which no longer made it a virtual business. So 10 months after launching, it became Art Haven Therapy to accommodate my clients seeking in-person services. I would never have pictured how quickly this business would develop, but it unfolded exactly as it was meant to. I am blown away by those who have supported me and my dream, and am beyond excited to see what this next year has to offer!

When you're experiencing anxiety, try these 5 minute self care tools and see if they work for you! 💚
🧘‍♀️ Focusing on each part of your body through a body scan exercise can help to bring you into the present moment.
🫁 By taking deep breathes and stretching your lungs, you can trigger your "rest and digest" nervous system which may be helpful for easing your feelings of anxiety.
💕 Reaching out to a friend, family member or loved one for support can make you feel less alone and isolated.
☕️ Making a cup of tea can be relaxing and calming in moments of anxiety or stress.
🧊 Drinking a glass of water (especially a cold one) can divert your brain to the cool sensation, and away from from the anxious feelings.

An art invitation that I love to offer in art therapy is to create your self-care garden. Think of the flowers and plants as different parts of yourself that need to be watered. Consider what needs sunlight, and what needs to be nourished. What kind of plants or flowers are in your garden, and where is your garden? Is your garden contained by pots and planters, or is it living outside and growing wild?

🌼🌺🌹🌸🌻🌷

This is a wonderful directive that offers self-reflection, exploration, and a better understanding of what you may need to nourish in yourself.