Steph is now accepting new clients of all ages for sessions online and in person in Kingston, Ontario!
Please note: This page features a mix of AI-generated images and Steph’s therapeutic artwork. Unless indicated otherwise, the artwork is AI-generated.
“In many shamanic societies, if you came to a medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions: “When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence?”
Dear tender-hearted human,
If you are yearning for more beauty and magic. If you struggle to honour your inner voice and knowing. If you are seeking more freedom and power in your expression, in your creative pursuits or in the everyday…
You have journeyed to the right place.
What you feel and know is real… More beauty and magic are possible. Your sensitivity is a much-needed gift. It can be hard to believe, but your voice does matter. And, no, your creativity is not a waste of time.
Come! Let’s reawaken our creative selves.
Let’s re-enchant this life.
In the body is where it all begins…
Pain, possibility, power. Let’s return to all of your senses, to your tender heart, to your roots and wings, and rediscover wonder in the little things…
“You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.”
In your every cell, there is wisdom.
You used to cry and yell and shake and create. There was no such thing as good or bad art, good feelings or bad feelings. Before life taught you to hold it all in and prioritize productivity over pleasure, expression flowed freely through your wise body. You could cry one moment and laugh the next. Pain didn’t last so long, as you existed in harmony with yourself.
Expressive Arts Therapy invites you…
…into a forever process of coming back home.
To a YOU in harmony with yourself, a YOU fully alive in all of your senses, a YOU bringing your full expression to the world and sowing seeds of beauty wherever you dare to trust your inner voice.
You’re not meant to do it alone.
None of us are.
“THIS IS WAY TOO BIG
FOR YOU TO CARRY THIS ON YOUR OWN
SO, YOU DO NOT CARRY THIS ALL ALONE”
It would be an honour and joy to accompany you on your journey. Read on to learn more about Expressive Arts Therapy and my approach. If your gut says we could be a could fit, please reach out!
What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive Arts (EXA) Therapy is an intentionally intermodal form of therapy that makes use of every form of expression you can imagine to support you in expanding your range of play and reconnecting with your inner resources. Visual arts, creative writing, drama, music, voice and movement are all used to support your personal inquiry, re-enchantment and growth. Entering the creative process requires meeting the unknown. As you meet the unknown and all the barriers that stand in the way of your expression, with your Expressive Arts Therapist (EXAT) as your companion and guide, you will build and uncover resources that will serve you in every facet of your life. Accessing your full creativity ultimately means accessing your full aliveness.
By moving through the creative process with your Expressive Arts Therapist, you can expect to:
deepen your connection with your body, senses and creative impulses;
experience more ease and confidence in accessing your creativity and hearing your inner voice;
increase your tolerance and capacity for the unknown;
expand your range of expression and play;
discover beauty and power in the imperfect;
cultivate acceptance and love toward all your messy human parts;
gain confidence in your unique strengths, gifts and resources;
gather tools and insight for overcoming obstacles in your daily life and meeting yourself with more compassion;
rediscover magic in the everyday. ✨
Who is EXA Therapy for?
Expressive Arts Therapy can support a diversity of humans for many reasons, but it’s not for everyone! If any of these statements resonate, Expressive Arts Therapy might be a good fit for you:
I used to make things, sing, dance, and express myself in a lot of creative ways as a kid, but I don’t anymore. I want to bring the joy and comfort of creating back into my life.
I identify as a sensitive person. I’ve often been told I’m “too sensitive.” I’m done feeling ashamed of my real human response to life. I am ready to embrace my sensitivity as a superpower.
I identify as a visual person. I use imagery and metaphor to make sense of life and my place in it. I want to make more space in my life for the power of imagery.
My life is out of balance. I work too hard and don’t care for myself, play, or create as much as I want to. I’m ready to start listening to my body better and would benefit from an embodied therapy practice that encourages me to slow down and connect with my body, creative impulses, and intuition.
I’ve been feeling discouraged and disheartened. Life hasn't turned out to be as joy- and magic-filled as I had hoped. I am seeking help to find my way back to vitality and joy.
In social settings, I am usually the quiet one, the one who listens. Taking up space with my voice and ideas leaves me feeling vulnerable. I want to express more of myself out in the world - with my family, at work, and in my community - even though it’s terrifying. I am ready to bravely start taking up more space.
Anxiety is a heavy weight I carry, and sometimes I worry I will never be myself again. I would love someone to hold my hand as I honour the scared part in me and find my way back to my OKness.
I am struggling with anger and/or grief. I don’t know what to do with myself! Talking about it just brings me down the same path over and over. I want to move this energy out of my body.
I am tired of being nice. I tiptoe around others to keep the peace, and my wellness suffers as a result. I can feel the pressure of not honouring myself building up inside me. I want to learn to express myself in effective and therapeutic ways.
I believe in or am curious about the existence of something greater than myself. I want my therapy experience to leave room for mystery.
I yearn for more ritual and ceremony in my life. I would love for ritual and ceremony to be a part of my therapy experience!
Meet Steph, Your Potential Therapist
Hi there! I’m Steph and I’m really glad you’re here. Having struggled with feelings of anxiety throughout my life, I know firsthand how important it is to feel welcomed and accepted in all your beautiful complexity. My goal is to create a space where every part of you is seen and honoured.
I use the arts to help my clients meet themselves with compassion and lovingly, courageously grow beyond old limiting stories and patterns. While I love to dabble in all forms of creativity, my specialties are in the realms of vocal exploration, dramatic/role play and embodied movement. I am passionate about supporting people to find full expression in their bodies and voices, and rediscover power and wisdom in their innate creativity.
My approach is intuitive and relational (read more here). In my sessions with clients, we openly discuss how we impact one another. I believe that truth, while scary at first, becomes freeing once it’s out in the open. I’m fascinated by the processes of rupture and repair and am committed to helping you trust in your ability to work through these moments and come out stronger on the other side. You may have had terrible relational experiences in the past—the cool thing about therapy is that when something gets tough (and it might), I won't go anywhere. I'm committed to coming back until the relationship is repaired. I'm excited about creating a safe container where you can experience rupture and repair, helping you maintain beautiful, meaningful relationships in your life.
In my own artistic/therapeutic practice, I am learning to move emotions through my body with the help of movement and dance, especially in mindful movement practices like 5Rhythms. I am rediscovering the joy of singing for myself, making up songs, and recording them on my handy-dandy looper. I am also on a journey to better understand my anger. Gah! It isn’t easy!
I have been influenced by the writings of many people. The image below displays a selection of the books I have read and am currently reading. On the left are the books I have completed, and on the right are the books I am determined to finish. Not shown are the many audiobooks I have listened to, including The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Burnout by Emily Nagoski.
From top to bottom, the left pile (books I have finished): The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris, A Hidden Wholeness by Parker J. Palmer, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Untamed by Glennon Doyle, Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown, Daring Greatly by Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown, Anchored by Deb Dana, Directing The Power of Conscious Feelings by Clinton Callahan, The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté. From top to bottom, the right pile (books I intend to finish): Full Voice by Barbara McAfee, The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller, The Power of Attachment by Diane Poole Heller, My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem, A Liberated Mind by Steven C. Hayes, The Mindful Way Workbook by John Teasdale, Mark Williams, and Zindel Segal.
I like to believe in magic and the existence of things beyond my human comprehension. I am curious about connecting to something I call “spirit” and seek guidance outside of myself in everyday life. If this is something that interests you, we can make room for spirit in our sessions. And if not, that’s cool too! I am very happy to stay in the realm of humans with you.
Though I dislike how society places so much value on qualifications (as if our lived experience isn't enough), rest assured, I have taken my training seriously. After completing my Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science at McMaster University, I trained as a Community Song Leader, then completed a three-year training in Expressive Arts Therapy with the CREATE Institute in Toronto. Almost half of my training was online due to the pandemic, which means I can proudly say I offer an incredible online experience. There are benefits to both in-person and online therapy sessions, and honestly, I don't have a preference between the two.
I blend my lived experiences as a full-feeling human and Community Song Leader with my formal therapy training to create an expansive experience for my clients. I have hundreds of mantra-like songs in my pockets and I pull them out whenever the moment calls for them. I often leave sessions with clients feeling surprised and delighted by where we travelled together. I feel more grounded and connected to magic, which gives me hope that my clients are receiving these benefits too.
Though I don’t consider myself a skilled visual artist, I have been repeatedly moved by the images that emerge when I put colour to paper. Here are some of my favourite creations:
Who has Steph worked with?
While this write-up is geared toward adults, I work with humans of all ages. The bulk of my experience has been acquired working with children (ages 5-12) and adults. I am passionate about helping adults reclaim their sensitivity and fullness of their expression, and I am equally passionate about helping kids preserve their sensitivity and fullness of expression as they move through this harsh world.
I have experience working with:
Children of divorced parents and single parents;
Children experiencing big emotions;
Children experiencing bullying at school;
Children who experienced or witnessed hurting (violence) at home;
Adults looking to reconnect with creativity and wonder, and express themselves more freely in their lives;
Artists looking to break free of their classical training;
Artists looking to reconnect with their art form;
Women, non-binary, gender diverse and Two-Spirit people who either self-identify as living with anxiety or have a clinical diagnosis.
How do sessions unfold?
A typical EXA Therapy session flows like this:
We check in. You share updates from your life and tell me if there is anything you want to focus on. We discuss your intention for the session and how you want to feel by the end of it.
We find our way into some art-making. We start in one art modality, then usually transfer to one or two other art modalities, each one bringing a special something-something.
We discuss the images, movement, sound and/or written words that emerged. We discuss the process of making the art, what surprised you, what challenged you, how you overcame obstacles, and the resources you uncovered. EXATs call this the Aesthetic Reflection.
We bring the conversation back to your life and discuss takeaways from the session. We harvest resources, inspirations, and lessons that can support you outside of your therapy sessions. This is called the Harvesting.
We schedule our next session and say bye for now.
Stepping back to look at the growth that happens over time, I see a four-step, non-linear process:
Step 1: Tell Your Story
We begin by mapping where you have been, where you are, and where you want to go. This involves understanding the landscape of your life, your story, the challenges you face, and the resources you rely on. We explore your hopes and dreams for the future and get curious about how we might journey from your current state to your desired goals.
Step 2: Who is in the Room?
Drawing on principles from Psychodrama and Internal Family Systems, we spend time getting to know the different parts of you—your various stories, patterns, and beliefs. We bring acceptance and understanding to all these parts, thank them for the role they have played in keeping you safe, and, if they are no longer serving you, lovingly let them know it’s time for them to get out of the driver’s seat.
Step 3: Gently Meet and Move Past Your Edges
Inspired by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), after lovingly accepting all parts of you, we connect with what’s truly important to you. Using the arts, we help you expand in meaningful directions, addressing discomfort and resistance as they arise. Together, we encounter creative blocks (like fear of failure, perfectionism, past negative or traumatic experiences, stress and anxiety, self-doubt, burnout, etc!) with awareness and compassion, finding innovative ways to work with them so they no longer stand in the way of your self-expression.
Step 4: Bravely Express Your Full Self
With a solid foundation of trust and comfort in our creative space, and after addressing your creative blocks, we turn our focus to what you are here to express in this life. This is when (knock on wood) your creativity begins to flow freely. The barriers between you and your life’s work are navigable. We listen for what wants to be expressed and bring it to life. Together, we shape it until you are moved by what you have created. Repeat.
Is artistic “skill” required?
Nope! One of my teachers once said that our goal as artists is to shape a piece of art until it MOVES us. Anyone, no matter their skill, can create art that moves them. I am here to help you get there. I will provide prompts and just enough structure for you to find freedom. Sometimes, especially in the beginning of our time together, you may find that you are NOT moved by your art, or that you struggle to create anything or see the point in any of it. This is fertile ground! The attitudes we bring toward our art are usually tightly woven with the attitudes we bring toward ourselves and our lives. If we can meet these attitudes with curiosity, compassion and a healthy dose of defiance in the safe container that Expressive Arts Therapy provides, well, maybe this silly little art practice might just end up changing how you approach your whole life. No big deal. 😉
What does it cost?
After much consideration, I have chosen flat rates consistent with those charged by other Qualifying Registered Psychotherapists. If you’re feeling really drawn to work with me and these rates don’t work for you, let’s talk! I may have sliding scale spots available.
60 Minutes Online
$120
60 Minutes in Kingston
$120 + Room Rental Fee
90 Minutes Online
$150
90 Minutes in Kingston
$150 + Room Rental Fee
The room rental will typically be an additional $15-$25, depending on the specific room we choose. This will be communicated before sessions begin, so you’ll know what to expect. I am considering two spaces for in-person sessions: the Music Room at Chalmers United Church and a meeting room at 99 York St.
What are the next steps?
Step 1:
You book a free 30-minute Curiosity Call to explore if we are indeed a good fit.
Step 2:
I send you a consent agreement. You look it over, ask any questions and decide if you want to book a 90-minute Intake Session.
Step 3:
We meet for the 90-minute Intake Session. We review the consent agreement together and sign it if we haven’t already. I gather some information about you, and you ask me all of your questions. With any remaining time, we will create some art together.
Step 4:
We meet weekly or biweekly until there is a reason for us to conclude our sessions. This could be based on your progress and needs, or if the support you require goes beyond my expertise. Rest assured, we’ll navigate this together in line with the guidelines of the CRPO (College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario).