treatment
ART therapy
what is ART therapy
Art therapy is a type of mental health support that uses artmaking to help people feel better and connect with themselves and others. It can be helpful for individuals, families, and communities. In art therapy, a trained art therapist guides the process and creates a safe, supportive space where everyone is accepted just as they are.
Art offers a unique way to:
- Express feelings or memories that may be hard to put into words
- Contain and release difficult emotions
- Move through grief and loss in a supportive space
- Reconnect sensory and emotional experiences
- Rediscover choice, play, and creativity
Art therapists are specially trained to:
- Create safe, trauma-informed spaces with a variety of art materials
- Explore artwork with curiosity and informed questions to uncover meaning
- Treat both client and artwork with respect, supporting self-discovery
Art therapy sessions vary but often include:
- Beginning: Welcome and introduction to materials
- Middle: Artmaking, with optional conversation
- Closing: Sharing and reflection
Sessions may be individual, dyadic (e.g., parent and child), family-based, or in groups. Timing ranges from 45–90 minutes for individuals and 1–2.5 hours for groups. Spaces are designed to be safe, private, and welcoming, with freedom to explore and create.
Art therapy can help clients:
- Share feelings and make creative choices in a supportive space
- Be witnessed and understood, using imagery to express subtle experiences
- Build confidence, awareness, and regulation
- Explore identity, purpose, and new ways of telling one’s story
ABOUT OUR INTERNS
Summit Psychology partners with student interns from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute (KATI) in Nelson, BC. KATI offers an accredited art therapy training program recognized by the Canadian Art Therapy Association. Interns bring diverse backgrounds and fresh perspectives to their work and complete 300 hours of supervised clinical practice as part of their training. Clients working with student interns benefit from reduced-cost services and the close collaboration between interns and their supervisors to support treatment goals.
Our Team
Team
Laura Andrew
BSc, DKATI, RCAT
Laura Andrew is a Registered Art Therapist with the Canadian Art Therapy Association. She is relational, trauma-informed, strengths-based art therapist who has been working with children, youth, families and adults in the community for the last twelve years.
