Bloom Art Therapy
#10-1515 Westgate Rd V1Z 3X4 West Kelowna, BC, Canada

300 followers! Wow, thanks everyone for following my art therapy journey! I haven’t introduced myself yet, so here it is! After achieving a fine arts degree from University of Waterloo, I received a diploma from an art therapy post graduate program from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. I have worked with a variety of populations (kids, adults, adults with diversabilities, kids with ASD, mental health population and seniors) I enjoy of...fering healing and growth through the arts. I offer a safe space for kids and adults to express their emotions, explore their creativity through art and build skills that support their everyday life. Programs you can attend: Open Studio at Stepping Stones Counselling Group (next ones coming up in April), heART Fit (drop in at the Rotary Centre every Tuesday from 9:30-12:30pm), keep your eye out for upcoming workshops, or inquire about individual sessions. Art can be used as a nonverbal form of communication to express yourself. Guided by an art therapist, clients can experience cathartic release, relaxation, build self-confidence and work towards clients specific issues, needs and goals. Art therapy can also be an excellent resource for self-care and wellness. Thanks for following along! See more

Playing hallway bingo at this nursing home while social distancing, what a great idea...

Anything can be art.

300 followers! Wow, thanks everyone for following my art therapy journey! I havent introduced myself yet, so here it is! After achieving a fine arts degree from University of Waterloo, I received a diploma from an art therapy post graduate program from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. I have worked with a variety of populations (kids, adults, adults with diversabilities, kids with ASD, mental health population and seniors) I enjoy of...fering healing and growth through the arts. I offer a safe space for kids and adults to express their emotions, explore their creativity through art and build skills that support their everyday life. Programs you can attend: Open Studio at Stepping Stones Counselling Group (next ones coming up in April), heART Fit (drop in at the Rotary Centre every Tuesday from 9:30-12:30pm), keep your eye out for upcoming workshops, or inquire about individual sessions. Art can be used as a nonverbal form of communication to express yourself. Guided by an art therapist, clients can experience cathartic release, relaxation, build self-confidence and work towards clients specific issues, needs and goals. Art therapy can also be an excellent resource for self-care and wellness. Thanks for following along! See more

Story making. This is a fun game to play one on one or in a group. Each person draws their own symbols and shares them with the group, then you can create your own stories or work together to make a story. The results are always creative and full of imagination.

OPEN STUDIO FUN!

OPEN STUDIO fun! One of the littles from the weekend said, I thought we were going to have to follow along like a class, but I liked how I could make whatever I wanted! Open studio offers a space to create and get messy. An art therapist (me!)is there to hold space, give you ideas if youre stuck and help with anything you need for your projects! All materials are provided and you can take home anything you make. You can drop in anytime between 12-3. Stay tuned for the next open studio date.

Monday’s art therapy table

Mondays art therapy table

Today’s heART Fit: Don’t lose the pleasure of the process. This weekend I sat down with my new punch needle project, excited about all of the different textures and colours. I'm currently working on my third project of the weekend. After being really in the zone working on a piece for a few hours, I noticed my drive to work on it was gone and the needle wasn’t working how I wanted it to. I was struck with discouragement, when not two minutes earlier I was pumped on my new pr...oject. I simply had to stop and move onto something else, but it felt like, but I have to get this right now! The next day when I picked up the project again I was able to see it with fresh eyes and magically it started working again. My dear friend said it best, expectations and obligations don’t apply to art. That was really freeing to hear, I can stop when I want, I can go back to it when I want or not at all if I want. This week I encourage you to think about what expectations or obligations you put on your art or art making practices. Are there any that you can get rid of? What does your art look like and how do you approach it differently when you get rid of these obligations. If you don’t do this, I encourage you to think about how this benefits your art practice?

Todays heART Fit: Dont lose the pleasure of the process. This weekend I sat down with my new punch needle project, excited about all of the different textures and colours. Im currently working on my third project of the weekend. After being really in the zone working on a piece for a few hours, I noticed my drive to work on it was gone and the needle wasnt working how I wanted it to. I was struck with discouragement, when not two minutes earlier I was pumped on my new pr...oject. I simply had to stop and move onto something else, but it felt like, but I have to get this right now! The next day when I picked up the project again I was able to see it with fresh eyes and magically it started working again. My dear friend said it best, expectations and obligations dont apply to art. That was really freeing to hear, I can stop when I want, I can go back to it when I want or not at all if I want. This week I encourage you to think about what expectations or obligations you put on your art or art making practices. Are there any that you can get rid of? What does your art look like and how do you approach it differently when you get rid of these obligations. If you dont do this, I encourage you to think about how this benefits your art practice?

Today in session we were being silly coming up with a name for our drawing. Here’s what we came up with! #donutdogchickenbagel

Today in session we were being silly coming up with a name for our drawing. Heres what we came up with! #donutdogchickenbagel

Next open studio is January 25th at @steppingstonescounselling ‘s Kirschner location. Come make art with me! No art experience required. All ages. All art supplies are provided.

I can’t believe the first few days of the year have come and gone. We’re in the stage of wanting to hang onto the holidays a little longer, but know its about that time to take down the tree. Last heART Fit, our intentions focused on reflecting on our art for the past year. At the end I prompted you to create a goal for your art practice for the upcoming year. Now that we are a few days in, I thought we could delve a little deeper. At school the kids were working on a ten ye...ar plan goal worksheet. The format of the worksheet was: Name a goal: ____________________ Name an obstacle that could get in your way: ______________________ How will you overcome this obstacle: ______________________________ I thought this was a really great and realistic way to set a goal. Life happens, obstacles happen, but we can take it one step further to ask ourselves how we can surpass these obstacles. This week I encourage you to elaborate on your current goal for your art practice. This could be anything, learn a new skill, improve current skills, work on positive self talk about your art etc. What obstacles may come in the way of your goal in your art practice and how will you overcome them?

Next open studio is January 25th at @steppingstonescounselling s Kirschner location. Come make art with me! No art experience required. All ages. All art supplies are provided.

I cant believe the first few days of the year have come and gone. Were in the stage of wanting to hang onto the holidays a little longer, but know its about that time to take down the tree. Last heART Fit, our intentions focused on reflecting on our art for the past year. At the end I prompted you to create a goal for your art practice for the upcoming year. Now that we are a few days in, I thought we could delve a little deeper. At school the kids were working on a ten ye...ar plan goal worksheet. The format of the worksheet was: Name a goal: ____________________ Name an obstacle that could get in your way: ______________________ How will you overcome this obstacle: ______________________________ I thought this was a really great and realistic way to set a goal. Life happens, obstacles happen, but we can take it one step further to ask ourselves how we can surpass these obstacles. This week I encourage you to elaborate on your current goal for your art practice. This could be anything, learn a new skill, improve current skills, work on positive self talk about your art etc. What obstacles may come in the way of your goal in your art practice and how will you overcome them?

This weeks birch tree art from artists at Spring Valley Care Centre.

Progress on the S.T.E.M ferris wheel challenge @connect_to_learn

Check out these birch tree creations the seniors made today at Spring Valley Care Centre!

Be kind to yourself

Anger monster! Start by putting the thumb inside the glove and glue it shut. Then stuff the glove with something that will sound crunchy like paper towels or paper etc. Decorate with buttons, charms etc. You can use this for cathartic release when you are feeling angry by tossing it around, using as a punching bag etc. My client added a stick for extra momentum! @steppingstonescounselling

Lots of creativity floating around today @steppingstonescounselling for Open Art Studio!

Come make art with me this Saturday!! No art experience required. All ages welcome. All supplies provided. #kelowna #art #artastherapy #openartstudio #play

Healing through art!

Todays project: Wish stick. Today we are using the wish stick to wish things for ourselves when were feeling angry. You can use the wish stick to make any goals you have for yourself.

The seniors at Spring Valley Care Centre did a group project today. Welcoming fall into their space.

@steppingstonescounsell #art #kelowna #kelownanow #artastherapy #arttherapist #openstudio #wellbeing #art #artists

This weeks heART Fit intention: What makes the art you create for other people and what makes it for just you? Are all the pieces you make for others to see or just for you? Most of the time if Im excited about a piece I will show it to at least one person, or even post it to social media. Most times I really enjoy sharing my art with others. But last year I started a weekly art sketchbook, an idea from a heART Fit member and I have to say there is something special about ...creating in a sketchbook. For me-the pressure of a blank canvas goes away. It allows me to create a bit more spontaneously. When it doesnt feel so precious, I feel like I can really do ANYTHING I want, I can scribble and crumple and its okay because its just for me. I encourage you to reflect about who your work is for this week? There isnt a right answer, just noticing how and why you create your work. Does who you make it for change the way you feel about your work? What characteristics does your work have if it is just for your eyes and how does that change if it is for others to see?

Yesterdays offerings for Teen Girls Group at Stepping Stones Counselling Group with myself and Alisha Kandler-a counsellor.

All set up to do a mantra flag in a session today. For the mantra flag: Think of a phrase or mantra that you can tell yourself at a time in need. You can use any art materials to write or depict your mantra and decorate however you like! Think about a space in your home where you can put this. A space where youll walk by it multiple times a day. That way when you need a reminder of your mantra it will be there!

Continuing our henna tradition for art at the end of summer!

The seniors at Spring Valley Care Centre have been creating outside of the box with these dot paintings made with q-tips this past month!

Teen night at Stepping Stones Counselling Group

Senior Health and Wellness Day was full of laughs and fun!

This week at Spring Valley Care Centre artists created paper wreaths. They first started filling up a blank price of paper with colour and patterns. We then cut up their work into leaves and they glued them onto the wreath.