As a registrant of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), I belong to a self-regulated profession, governed by the Psychotherapy Act, 2007 and the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA) to protect the public’s right to safe, competent and ethical care.

All Registered Psychotherapists are required to complete a Master’s program (or Master’s equivalent), supervision hours, and a registration exam. I have “Qualifying” status since I’ve completed a substantial amount of my program, but still need to take the CRPO registration exam upon official graduation from Toronto Art Therapy Institute. It also means that I must practice under supervision, and regularly meet with my clinical supervisor to support my development as a new practitioner.

Art therapy combines the creative process with psychotherapy, allowing exploration of thoughts, feelings, and insights that may be difficult to capture with verbal expression alone. Canadian art therapists abide by ethical standards overseen by the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).

There is a significant body of research to support that art therapy is a legitimate and effective form of mental health support.

Since I’m working on my thesis and have not yet graduated my program, my current title is “art therapy student,” not “art therapist.”

I’m qualified to facilitate art-focused and talk-focused sessions. How we balance these depends on what feels most effective for you.

Art may be created as a quick check-in at the beginning of a session, a focus for the majority of our session, a soothing tool while discussing difficult topics, or as something for you to do on your own time and bring in to sessions. Art therapy does not involve me imposing meanings or interpretations onto your creations–rather as a vehicle for us to co-explore your inner world. Typically, the artwork is used as a first step to then discuss and verbalize what comes up for you.

A talk therapy session will typically involve a one-on-one conversation, often beginning with you sharing what’s on your mind or discussing specific concerns or goals. I aim to listen actively, ask questions to encourage curiosity & reflection, and help your explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Each session is tailored to your unique needs and evolves based on progress and goals.

As a RP (Qualifying), I am ethically responsible for protecting your privacy and confidentiality. Following our sessions, I summarize our visit in my clinical notes which are securely stored via PHIPA compliant software. You have the right to look at records kept by your therapist at any time. Your therapist must provide a copy of this information within a reasonable period of time and must make any corrections or changes to your record that you request. My in-person and virtual sessions are compliant with PHIPA standards to protect your privacy. I am required to work with a clinical supervisor, and some details of our session may be discussed in supervision or professional development with other therapists, who are all bound by CRPO privacy & confidentiality.

Under serious circumstances, I may be required to disclose your information as a mandatory reporter or as ordered by the court. Please see CRPO Standard 3.1: Confidentiality – Limits to Confidentiality. In situations where the client is a minor who is capable of providing consent*, I require the client’s informed consent in order to share their personal health information with parent(s) or guardian(s).

*In Ontario, clients of any age are considered capable of refusing or providing consent to their own treatment as long as they possess the maturity to reasonably understand the information provided and can appreciate the consequences of their decisions.

I am open to working with adults, adolescents, and children who are residents of Ontario. Please note that clients under 18 will require a parent or guardian’s signed consent.

I have experience supporting clients with diverse cognitive abilities and emotional challenges. If your specific concerns fall outside my areas of specialization, I am open to learning and working together to address your unique needs, as long as it aligns with my ethical obligations to practice within my scope.

Registered Psychotherapy (Qualifying) services are not covered by OHIP, but are sometimes partially or fully covered by employee benefit or other private health insurance plans. Before the first session, the client is advised to check their benefit or insurance plan to ensure compliance with its coverage and claim procedures (e.g., whether or not a letter or referral from your physician is required, the details required on receipts, etc.).

No, as an RP (Qualifying) I am not licensed to diagnose mental health conditions or prescribe medication. Only Medical Doctors, such as psychiatrists, and certain other licensed professionals like Registered Psychologists can provide diagnoses and prescribe medications. If you require a diagnosis or medication, your first point of contact should be your family doctor, who can assess your condition and refer you to a specialist if needed.