HEALTH & WELLNESS

WHAT IS ART THERAPY?

Art therapy, a form of psychotherapy, is a culturally aware mental health profession that enhances well-being through creative expression. Guided by theories of psychology, relationships, and social justice, professional art therapists support individuals, families, and communities with unconditional acceptance.

How Does Art-Making Benefit Therapy?
Art-making in therapy offers clients opportunities to:

• Express feelings or memories beyond words.

• Process and release conflicting emotions, fostering self-acceptance.

• Grieve and heal through visual expression in a supportive space.

• Reorganize emotional and sensory experiences disrupted by challenges.

• Engage in creativity, pleasure, and play.

Why Choose Art Therapy?
Art therapists uniquely:

• Provide trauma-informed, safe spaces for creative expression.

• Use clients’ artwork to explore challenges through thoughtful dialogue.

• Honor the client and their art as a path to personal meaning and growth.

ART THERAPY with Nicole Bodnaresk

Nicole Bodnaresk is a recent graduate of Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, post-baccalaureate program in Art Therapy. Throughout this time, she was able to have different placement opportunities where she worked in respite care for diversibilities, a retreat centre for woman recovering from trauma, Be Brave Ranch for Little Warriors, and created grief groups. As part of her training and personal values and principles, she works with the framework of trauma-informed, relational, and client-centred therapy.

Her background stems from industrial and commercial health and safety consulting and curriculum development. While she sees the need for this in the workplace, she was often faced with workers experiencing burn out and psychologically unsafe workplaces. She hopes to help support workplace health and safety through different offerings under her Art Therapy umbrella.

She has been blessed to travel many places in the world and listen to people’s stories and honour their experiences. She had run her own business for many years and made herself known in the community through different avenues. Her change in career has been long lived. Starting her Art Therapy adventure in 2016. After constantly needing to put it on pause due to health issues, Nicole woke up from her first brain surgery over three years ago and decided to enroll in a full time Art Therapy program.

Nicole volunteers as a health and mental health advocate, assists as an Art Therapist, and helps people find resources. She also sits on the board of a non-profit boxing club for underprivileged members. Her dream is to create safe homes for trauma survivors, offering kindness, love, and healing through music, art, and other therapeutic methods, ensuring they feel heard and cared for. As part of her offerings, she can work within the framework of the organization or create programs to help meet the organizations needs. She also offers the use of music and expression within her Art Therapy training for additional program needs.

Inquire by emailing: nicole@ladymacdonald.com