Frequently Asked Questions

Art therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses artistic materials, the creative process, images and dialogue to encourage self-expression, self-exploration and self-awareness. Through both images and words, art therapy seeks to encourage the expression of thoughts and emotions which may sometimes be unconscious or too difficult to express verbally. The art therapist is a trained and accredited professional (MA)(ATPQ), who facilitates this therapeutic process in an ethical and safe environment. The role of the art therapist is to accompany the individual in their personal process, helping them to translate their creative language into avenues for reflection and personal awareness, thereby facilitating positive change. Want to learn more about the benefits of art therapy? We invite you to read our blog article on the matter: Understanding Art Therapy: A Path to Healing through Creativity.

Art therapy aims to improve the mental health of people who are dealing with different challenges including: addictions, anxiety, attention disorders, grief and loss, dementia, depression, eating disorders, physical illness, PTSD, trauma, relationship issues and much more. The aim of art therapy is to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, reduce stress and anxiety, release and process emotions, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, and to reduce and resolve inner conflict and distress.

No particular artistic talent, skill or technique is required to benefit fully from art therapy. The creative process and the work produced are considered more for their therapeutic significance and experience than for their aesthetic value. There are no rules for how to create art in art therapy and anyone can enjoy the benefits of the creative process.

A virtual art therapy session is similar in essence to in-person sessions, but adapted to be effective and engaging through a screen. Here’s what you can typically expect:

Before the Session

• Set-Up: You'll need a quiet, private space with internet access. A computer, tablet, or even a smartphone with a camera will work.

• Art Materials: You can use whatever you have on hand — like paper, pencils, markers, paint, clay, or even digital tools. The art therapist might suggest specific materials based on your goals, but sessions are usually designed to be flexible and low-pressure.

During the Session

• Check-In: Sessions can begin with a verbal check-in to explore how you’re feeling and what you’d like to focus on or an invitation to create something that reflects the thoughts, sensations, feelings, or concerns you’re bringing into the session.

• Art-Making: You’ll be guided to create art as a way of exploring emotions, experiences, or internal conflicts. This could be through drawing, painting, collage, or imaginative play.

• Process and Discussion: After the art-making, you’ll reflect on the process and the imagery with the therapist. There’s no pressure to be “good” at art — it’s about expression, not skill.

When you book a free consult with us, one of our therapists will connect with you for 15-20 minutes to discuss your concerns, needs and expectations. Once you have shared what you are looking for, the therapist will evaluate whether the services they provide are an appropriate fit to meet your needs. If you both decide you are a good fit, three assessment sessions are scheduled to further explore your needs and discuss your goals and concerns for therapy. During these assessment sessions, you and your therapist will identify some themes/areas that you would like to work on together. This will create the basis for your individual treatment plan.

At the start of the meeting, you’ll be invited to express the concerns or emotions you’ve brought with you (through words or through art making). A review of the previous meeting is then made, enabling us to raise the themes, strategies or emotions that followed it. Depending on your concerns at the time of the meeting and/or your therapeutic goals, an art therapy intervention will be proposed to you. During this creative exploration, for example, you may be invited to use a specific artistic medium, or to think about a particular theme. You will then be asked exploratory questions to reveal the personal significance of your creation and may also be given an opportunity to express the emotions you felt and feel while looking at the art. Before leaving, the art therapist may ask you what was helpful about the session and will check-in with you to ensure that you are both aligned on the direction of your therapeutic journey together.

The art therapist is a trained and accredited professional (MA)(ATPQ), who facilitates this therapeutic process in an ethical and safe environment. The role of the art therapist is to accompany the individual in their personal process, helping them to translate their creative language into areas for reflection and personal awareness, thereby facilitating positive change.

Art therapy is suitable for all individuals, all ages and addresses people with a wide range of needs, difficulties and concerns (addictions, anxiety, attention disorders, grief and loss, dementia, depression, eating disorders, physical illness, PTSD, trauma, relationship issues, etc.). Art therapy is also great for anyone who may feel a bit nervous about the idea of going to therapy or hesitant to share about experiences, and may enjoy the opportunity to be active and do something during the session.

Both art therapy and talk therapy are therapeutic approaches that aim to support individuals in improving their emotional and mental health. Both involve working with a trained therapist who provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings. Both approaches may involve individual or group therapy sessions, depending on the needs of the individual.

The primary difference between art therapy and talk therapy is that art therapy involves the use of art-making as a form of self-expression and exploration. In art therapy, individuals use various art materials to create artwork that represents their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The therapist then works with the individual to explore the artwork and uncover insights into their emotions and behaviours.

No particular artistic talent, skill or technique is required to benefit fully from art therapy. The creative process and the work produced are considered more for their therapeutic significance and experience than for their aesthetic value. There are no rules for how to create art in art therapy and anyone can enjoy the benefits of the creative process.

Yes! This is an option too. Our team has different therapists with a diverse range of skill sets, we can definitely find the best fit for you.

People seek therapy for a variety of reasons, some of them may include:

Life Transitions: Dealing with changes such as divorce, the death of a loved one, moving to a new city, or changing careers.

Personal Growth: Desiring to better oneself, improve self-esteem, or enhance social skills.

Relationship Issues: Addressing problems in personal or professional relationships.

Stress and Coping: Learning how to manage stress related to work, family, or health.

Individual counselling provides a space where clients can address their problems and concerns in depth, work towards personal growth, and learn effective strategies for handling the complexities of life.

Art therapy and psychotherapy sessions are 50-60 minutes long. Group art therapy sessions are 90-120 minutes long.

This is normal! There is no pressure to share everything right away. For some people it takes time to build trust, especially when sharing parts of our stories or our identities that we may not have shared with others yet. You and your therapist will work together at a pace that is comfortable with you.

If you’re unsure whether art therapy or psychotherapy fits in your budget at the moment, we do offer sliding scale options – you are welcome to bring this up with your therapist in session.

A receipt for insurance purposes will be given to you after each payment. It is your responsibility to check with your insurer to see if you are covered for 1) art therapy, 2) mental health counselling or 3) psychotherapy.

The number of sessions is determined by the individual needs and goals of the client. For short term therapy, clients attend between 10-15 sessions.

There is no straightforward answer to this question as it varies depending on the individual and the presenting concerns that are brought into session. Some individuals feel a positive shift or change after a few sessions while others may only notice changes over a longer period of time. The important thing to remember is that you are on your own unique journey and you set the pace!

This is not an uncommon experience. For some individuals, talking about their distress can increase some of their discomfort. If this is the case for you, your therapist will help you find coping strategies to manage this phase in therapy so that you can benefit from the relief that is likely to follow as therapy progresses.

Yes. Here is our Privacy Policy:

PRIVACY POLICY

The privacy of your personal information is an important principle in our practice. At Gingko Centre for Creative Arts Therapies, we are committed to only collecting, using and disclosing personal information to the extent necessary for the services we provide. Our aim is to promote openness and transparency.

What is Personal Information:

Personal information refers to any information that relates to an identifiable person. This can include a wide range of details, such as a person’s name, address, phone number, email address, family status and ethnic background.

We Collect Personal Information :

1) Primary Purposes:

Similarly to other Art Therapists (M.A), Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCC) and Registered Psychotherapists (RP), we collect, use and disclose personal information in order to serve our clients. The primary purpose of collecting personal information is to provide therapeutic treatment. For example, we collect information about a client’s psychological, social and health functioning (both current and past) in order to help us assess what their needs are, to advise them of their options and then to provide the care they choose to have.

2) Secondary Purposes:

The most common example of our related and secondary purposes for collecting personal information is:

To invoice clients for services that were not paid for at the time or to collect unpaid accounts.

To access third party (eg. Insurance company) payment of services.

To enable provision of information to clients who contact us with questions after services are terminated or who require services over a long period of time. We retain client information for a minimum of ten years after the last contact as required by the Canadian Art Therapy Association and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Files are then destroyed.

Retention & Destruction of Personal Information:

We need to retain personal information for some time to ensure that we can answer any questions you might have about the services provided and for our own accountability to our regulatory body and association. This need must be balanced with the need to protect privacy by destroying records at the earliest and most appropriate time. We keep our files for about ten years; exceptions are made in cases where clients need records retained for a longer period. Paper records are shredded and electronic records are deleted.

We understand the importance of protecting personal information.

Accordingly, we take the following steps:

Paper information is either under supervision or secured in a locked or restricted area.

If paper information needs to be transmitted, it is done through a sealed, addressed envelope or box marked as confidential.

Electronic hardware is either under supervision or secured in a locked or restricted area at all times.

Access to Your Information

With only a few exceptions, you have the right to see what personal information we hold about you. A nominal processing fee may be required to gather your data. If there is a problem, we may ask you to put your request in writing. In rare situations, we may be unable to provide access. In such cases, explanations will be provided. If you believe there is a mistake in the information, you have the right to ask for it to be corrected. This applies to factual information and not to any professional opinions we may have formed. We may ask you to provide documentation that our files are wrong. In cases where we agree, the correction will be made. Where we do not, we will place a statement to this effect in your record.

If You Have Any Questions

Please contact your therapist immediately about any concerns you may have regarding our privacy policies or any service you receive.

If we cannot satisfy your request, you have the right to complain to our regulatory body:

Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

CCPA Ethics Committee Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

202–245 Menten Place

Ottawa, ON K2H 9E8

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

375 University Avenue, Suite 800

Toronto, ON M5G 2J5

T: 416-479-4330 / 1-844-712-1364

F: 416-639-2168e: info@crpo.ca

Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the therapist’s day that could have been filled by another client. As such, we require 24 hours notice (1 business day) for any cancellations or changes to your appointment.

Please note that if you have an appointment on Monday, and you cancel your appointment over the weekend, this will be considered a late cancellation. Clients who provide less than 24 hours notice will be charged a cancellation fee of 50% to the card on file and 100% for a missed appointment.