Meet Art Therapist Katy Vinson
/There have been many challenges to face and overcome this year. People may be feeling overwhelmed and in the face of these challenges, it is important for everyone to find outlets and practice methods that helps them feel calm and connected.
Art can help with the expression of human creativity and imagination. Now, more than ever, Art Therapy is helping people discover their talents whilst bringing a sense of relief. Art Therapy uses visual elements to help improve a person’s mental health.
Vancouver based Art Therapist, Katy Vinson, answered some of our pressing questions about art therapy and how it can help people in challenging and uncertain times.
Tell us about yourself
I am a Registered Art Therapist and a mental health professional with 15 years of experience working in a variety of clinical and community settings. In addition to my private art therapy practice, I currently work as an eating disorders counsellor with a health authority. I have been honoured to work alongside people who have a variety of life experiences including: anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, trauma, and secondary trauma, substance use challenges, burnout, life transitions, grief and loss, and relationship challenges.
My education includes a Graduate Level Diploma in Art Therapy from the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, a BA in Psychology from Simon Fraser University, and a Certificate in Fine Art Techniques from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. I am currently working towards a Master of Counselling from Athabasca University.
For fun, I love spending time with my partner and other loved ones, dancing, hiking, cooking and baking, and enjoying delicious food!
How would you describe Art Therapy?
Art therapy brings together the process of creating art with elements of counselling to nurture health and wellness. In art therapy, the healing elements of the creative process may encourage further insight, self-expression, and transformation. Art therapy can offer a way to: increase connection with oneself and with others, nurture resiliency, strengths, and self-worth, decrease anxiety, increase calm, and improve mood, nurture healthy coping strategies, process life events, increase self-expression and self-exploration, and solve problems.
What inspired you to pursue an art therapy career?
I have loved creating art since I was a child, especially drawing and painting. I found art to be relaxing and was a way I could express myself without words. After working in community mental health for a few years, I started wondering how I could combine my love and appreciation for art with providing mental health support and came across art therapy! As soon as I entered my art therapy training program, I knew I was in the right place!
What is your favorite part of being an art therapist?
I love to see how art therapy provides a space for people to express themselves creatively and to learn more about themselves. It is inspiring to see how brave, resilient and kind people are and how the process of art making can ignite self-empowerment and connection. I feel so honoured to witness people’s journey through their art making process.
What could one expect from an art therapy session?
Each art therapy session will look unique. A session may include an art therapist offering a theme or art therapy directive to create art from or you may make art spontaneously. There will be time to create the art and then space to share and to explore your art making process and what you created. You might come to an art therapy session knowing an issue you’d like to explore or a medium you would like to use, or you may not know and that’s okay. The time in an art therapy session is dedicated to you and what you need and your art therapist is there to support you.
Who would benefit the most from participating in art therapy?
Anyone can benefit from art therapy! Some of the benefits include: better connection with oneself and with others, increased resiliency and self-worth, decreased anxiety and improved mood, more coping tools, and a space to process life events and experiences.
How can art therapy help in terms of adjusting to our ‘new normal’ with COVID-19?
Art therapy can be an excellent way to gain more self-awareness and to connect more with oneself. It can help process feelings and emotions along with challenges and experiences during the pandemic. Art therapy can also be a way to connect with others, even in a virtual art therapy format!
How was COVID-19 affected your work?
Much of the art therapy work I was doing in person before the pandemic had to be paused once it started. This nudged me to provide art therapy online which was (and still is!) a whole new learning experience! Although providing art therapy online feels different than in-person, I have witnessed great benefits.
Does a client need to be artistic?
People do not need to have any art experience to participate in art therapy. Many people who I have worked together with haven’t created art for many years before engaging in art therapy.
Check out Katy and her work:
Website: www.katyvinson.com
Instagram: @katy_vinson_art_therapy
Facebook: @katyvinsonarttherapy
Blog post by Martha Fallon
Martha is a Social Media Coordinator for YWiB Vancouver. Martha hails from Ireland and is a keen traveler who enjoys exploring the vast landscapes of Canada.