Helix Art Therapy

The HOMEBODY SHOW is now open ✨

It always feels so special to see my art up on the walls and see people interact with it. Each pieces holds a special meaning to me and I love hearing what it makes other people feel like. Art holds stories both in the eye of its witness and from the hand of its maker.

Today definitely feels like a celebration! Thank you so much to the ones of you who came by and made this first day special!

The .body.collective show will be up until August 4, 10 am to 4 pm in the Ladysmith Art Gallery!

Here is what your journal could look like if you join one (or more 😉) of the ✨creative summer sessions✨!! During our evening together, you will be invited to play with different materials to express yourself creatively.

Creative journaling gives you the freedom to truly listen to yourself and find meaningful way of giving voice to your inner world!

I’ve had a (written) journal for as long as I can remember, but this way of journaling feels truer to who am I right now. It helps me gain perspective, reflect, see possibilities in ways that words couldn’t.

To me my creative journal practice feels uplifting! ✨

First workshop : Wednesday 10, 6:30-8:30PM at (nanaimo,bc)

DM or visit the link in my bio to find out more!

Join me for an evening of creative journaling where you can unleash your creativity! Whether you’re an artist, writer, or just looking to try something new, this in-person gathering in Nanaimo is the perfect place to let your imagination run wild. Connect with fellow creatives, learn new skills, and get ready to make some amazing memories this summer. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to spark your creativity and have a great time! Sessions will include creative writing, collage and drawing.

All levels are welcome!

Link in bio ✨

New blog post 🗣️✨

A step by step guide when you are feeling overwhelmed:
1. Step back
2. Assess where you are at
3. Give your self what you need
4. Prioritize/delegate/learn to say no
5. Talk action
6. Consult an ✨art✨ therapist

To read this more detail, consult my blog 😉

Link in bio

Heyy, do you know a youth in Nanaimo who might be interested in learning new skills, build community and discover what it means to them to be a mentor?

I have the pleasure of co-leading this program through by offering the art therapy portion. Each week we will explore and reflect on different themes; along with learning about trauma-informed care, harm reduction and goal setting!

(link in bio)

Upcoming art show 🤗✨
July 26-August 4th

I’m so excited to be part of this amazing collective of talented artists! Make sure to mark your calendars 😀

This month I’ll be working hard to finishing my new collection for the show! It will include pottery sculptures and mixed media wall art!! Can’t wait to see it all together!

I’m baaaack 👋🏼 ✨ 🌊

Hi everyone, I’m officially back in the office as of this morning! The past 2 weeks have been really special for me as I got married to the love of my life surrounded with family and friends on beautiful vancouver island 🥹.

As an art therapist, I don’t usually share personal life events as it is important for me to keep some boundaries between my work and the rest of my life.

I’m choosing to share today because:
1. It’s a great photo 🤓
2. Making time to celebrate big milestones is something I had to learn in the past few years. Life can be so busy at times and we are not careful we might miss precious moments; graduation, coming of age, weddings, starting a new job, anniversaries/birthdays, first home, retirement, and any other big changes. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s important to slow down and honour the changes (big or small!) in my life: to celebrate where I am at, who I am, who I was and who I am becoming.

If we haven’t met, I’m Amélie! 👋🏼
I am a registered therapeutic counsellor (RTC) and registered Canadian art therapist (RCAT). I offer individual art therapy sessions, art therapy groups and therapeutic arts workshops in Nanaimo, BC and online. I also have the pleasure of supervising other art therapists. Services are available in English and French!

HELIX: a symbol of growth and resiliency often found in the natural world. To me, the spiral represents the transformative process of the art therapy journey; a journey of inward and outward learning and integration. The helix’s shape is also found in our DNA; shapping who we are and what is passed down from one generation to the next. 

Bonus it’s a bilingual word!

🧬🌀🟠

New monthly newsletter! If you like what you read, make sure to hit the subscribe button!

Helix Monthly MAY

New blog post 🤗 💻✨(Link in bio)

New blog post!

www.helixarttherapy.com

April's newsletter is now available!

Helix Monthly APRIL

New blog post!

Healing is not a linear process In the therapeutic process, sometimes we may feel stuck. Nothing seems to be happening, we get impatient as we want things to shift. Even in the period that appears quiet, growth is happening. Change is the only constant in our lives. The therapeutic process invites us to pause and integrate. In the...

March's Newsletter is now available :

Helix Monthly MARCH

‼️📣 NEW ART SHOW going up at .coffeeco tomorrow night (and ready for your eyes on Thursday morning) 🤗🎨 ✨

If you’ve been following my stories in the past few days you may have seen some process photos of the new collection I’ll be displaying at White Rabbit 🐇 ☕️

Stay tuned ✨

Interested in some drawing classes? I’m teaching another round of 8-classes starting March 12 at the ✍🏻✨

Whether you are a beginner looking to learn some basic skills or a seasoned artist to spark back your drawing practice, this introduction to drawing is for you! During the 8 weeks, you will learn various techniques such as line drawing, shading, perspective, blind drawing, chiaroscuro, shape and size relationship. We will work with pencil, charcoal and ink. Most importantly you will explore ways to develop your own unique style. Open to older teens and adults. All supplies included.

To find out more or to sign up, make sure to visit the link bellow 😉

🔗: https://www.nanaimoceramicarts.com/service-page/march-april-drawing-101?referral=service_list_widget

When is the last time you paid a visit to heart?

BLOG UPDATE: 5 misconceptions about art therapy

https://wix.to/V2gVZsn

5 misconceptions about art therapy You need to be an artist to do art therapy A common misconception about art therapy is that you need to be good at art or artistically inclined to participate in a session. You don't actually need any specific art skills to be a client. Art therapy is about finding ways to express yourselves beyond....

Good things lately ✨

💞 The days are getting longer and I’m feeling a positive shift in energy + overall mood

💞 Helix Art Therapy keeps growing, I have the honour of meeting new clients and see the growth in the ones I’ve been supporting for a while (one on one and in groups).

💞 We’ve launched the .body.collective with and and I am feeling excited and inspired for the new collection I am creating! (To find out more, give us a follow 🤗)

💞 I have the joy of teaching drawing classes and facilitating therapeutic arts workshops at ! This weekend I’m giving a creative journaling workshop (there is still a couple spots left 😉)

💞 I had a successful pop up at .coffeeco this past weekend, always a pleasure to see people interact with my pieces and giving them a new home 🏠 ☕️ (if you missed it you’ll find mugs, candles and vases at .kitchen)

💞 I am grateful for a sense of community that keeps growing!

💞 My physio cleared me to run again after months of rest and recovery ⚡️ 🏃🏻‍♀️⚡️

YOUR TURN!

What is going well for you these days? Big or small, making time to write down our wins can have a positive impact on how we feel about our lives.

NEW magnets tiles 🧲

These beauties are fresh out of the kiln and will be available to purchase as part of my pop up at .coffeeco this Saturday! ✨

Looking forward to seeing all of you!

Amélie Blanchard / is joining us once again in our space for a pop-up on the 10th featuring a Valentine’s themed pink collection of her handmade pottery + some other works if pink’s not your thing. 😉

Stop by for a coffee from 9 – 3 or until she sells out!

Using art in a reflective way can be a great tool to gain perspective with how we see ourselves and the world we live in. With the support of an art therapist, you can learn to make sense of your art and gain insight from it. Personally, I see the art as an extension of my client and will therefore treat it with care and respect. Creating can allow us to bypass the defences of our minds and break free from the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. It allows us to see what is within, discover our strengths and resiliency, and make changes we want to see in our lives.

In this photo, you can see me doing a body scan. You may be familiar with body scans as part of a meditation practice. Here, I allow visuals to emerge as I become aware of how my body is feeling. This exercise is a great way to slow down and ground in the present moment.

Let me know if you’d like me to do a demo 😌

Say hello to february with a new Helix Monthly:

Helix Monthly FEBRUARY

PROCESS > product

Art therapy is an invitation to slow down and be with what is. Of course, we have a look at what is created but the process of creating is just as important.

Yesterday’s creation from my vision board workshop at the ✨✂️ As I had already made my vision board for 2024, I decided to explore shapes and colours.

One of the key to collage is playing with layers and composition. Getting curious with how two elements may interact together to create a new meaning.

It’s the start of a New Year and the internet is flooded with “new year new you”, challenges, reflection questionnaires, podcasts and trends. It might be tempting to reinvent ourselves, but realistically it’s the small changes we make in our daily lives that truly matter.

Grab your favourite cup of tea/coffee, handful of art supplies and dive into the FREE resource I’ve created just for you!

☕️ ✍🏻 📓✨

🔗 https://shoutout.wix.com/so/9aOph75oM?languageTag=en

I’M STARTING A NEWSLETTER 🥳🤓 📰 ✨

Once a month, you’ll get updates on upcoming therapeutic arts workshops and information about art therapy!

Here’s a link for January’s edition: https://shoutout.wix.com/so/9aOph75oM?languageTag=en

Make sure to sign up 😉

I'm starting a newsletter!!
Helix Monthly:

Helix Monthly Hello 2024!

I've recently updated my website! Come check it out:

Art therapy and Conselling | Helix Art Therapy Interested in getting support around anxiety, depression, anger, grief, trauma? Book a session with Amélie (RCAT) on Helix Art Therapy. Art can help us gain new insights, heal and grow. Services available in english and french.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I’m back in the office ☕️ 📚✨

During my time off, I made time to fully ✨REST✨ by letting go of my beloved to-do list and schedule… and even my alarm! 😮‍💨 It’s often when we slow down that we realize how much sleep we may need.

I also made time to ✨REFLECT ✨ on the wins, challenges and milestones of 2023; what I was ready to let go of, continue doing and start doing in 2024.

I now feel ready for all of what 2024 has in mind for me ✨