Art therapy uses art as a means of expression, externalizing and releasing emotions and experiences. For example, for a child who has been bullied at school they may be experiencing tummy issues, difficulty trusting others, withdrawal, trouble sleeping, aggression, or heightened anxiety. They may have difficulty verbally expressing what is happening to them or the full impact of the bullying, how art therapy helps is it allows other means of expressing what may be too difficult to with words. Below I speak to 5 benefits of art therapy for kids. Empowering Self-expression: Art therapy empowe ..read more

​Dealing with a child's sleep issues can be a challenging aspect of parenting. Creating a conducive sleep environment, establishing a consistent routine, and understanding the underlying causes are pivotal. Here's how you can approach these challenges in a structured manner: Create a Conducive Sleep Environment: Comfort: Ensure your child's mattress and pillows are comfortable. The room should be dark, quiet, and cool (Mindell & Owens, 2015). Technology: Remove stimulating electronics from the bedroom. The blue light from screens can interfere with the natural production of melatonin ..read more

Struggling with sleepless nights? Art therapy might be the palette you need to color your way to better sleep. Here's a concise exploration of how this form of therapy can be a transformative approach to combating insomnia. 1. Art Therapy Promotes Relaxation The Flow State: Engaging in art can lead to a meditative state known as 'flow,' which is characterized by complete absorption in the activity, which can provide a natural escape stress and anxiety (Chilton, 2013). Cortisol Reduction: Studies indicate that creating art reduces cortisol levels, which can help soothe the nervous system and ..read more

​Good nutrition is the cornerstone of a child's physical and mental development. With it being preventative health month, this is third in a series of blog articles this month speaking to approaches in supporting wellbeing, and maintaining health as a preventative strategy! Here are three structured strategies to support your child's dietary needs: 1. Balanced Diet: Variety and Moderation: Incorporate a diverse range of foods—fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy—to provide essential nutrients. A balanced plate promotes growth and cognitive development (Brown & ..read more

With it being preventative health month, this is second in a series of blog articles this month speaking to holistic approaches in supporting wellbeing, and maintaining health as a preventative strategy! This article focuses on ways art therapy supports physical health when mental health is nurtured.  Boosts mood. One of the “happiness” feel-good chemicals dopamine has been shown by research to increase in the art making process. Mitchell (2012) shares the experience of viewing art having similar brain activity to those experiencing love. Reduces Cortisol. A pilot study found that adul ..read more

​With it being preventative health month, this is one in a series of blog articles this month speaking to holistic approaches to supporting wellbeing, and maintaining physical and mental health as a preventative strategy! This article focuses on nutrition and mental health specifically ways that nutrition can support anxiety, depression and insomnia.  Nutrition & Anxiety. Sawchuk (2017) speaks to the connection of nutrition and anxiety, including key considerations of eating healthy and balanced, in addition to changes in diet improving mood and sense of wellbeing. I think a holist ..read more

​With positive parenting awareness month coming to an end, I wanted to dedicate this last blog article in the series to the parents who are people pleasers out there. As it can be hard enough to set boundaries and say no for yourself never mind adding the situations with your child(ren). For those not familiar with positive parenting (also known as gentle parenting), it is about finding the balance between being overly restrictive and permissive parenting, the term “empathetic limits” is often used which highlights the balance between boundaries and acknowledging the emotions of the child. Rea ..read more

​With this month being positive parenting awareness month, I wanted to create an article about the benefits of art therapy in supporting parents in their journey, and creating deeper connections with their children. Please find below three ways it has been shown to help: Connection with your “inner child” and our children. Zeevi (2018) discusses how the art materials foster connection to creation and play key languages of children. When we engage in these languages, we support ways of reconnecting with our own inner child. The more able we are to connect and nurture ourselves the more we ar ..read more

​Parenting is hard work, and we can all use different forms of support along the journey of parenthood. This month is positive parenting awareness month, positive parenting is similar to gentle parenting and attachment parenting in that it strives to find the balance between healthy boundaries without being overly restrictive (Codekas, 2024). The approach fosters nurturing, empathy, and communication. Please find below my five top resources:    Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help Raise Kids that Thrive by Daniel Siegel & Mary Hartzell. Based ..read more

With blue Monday around the corner next week, I wanted to create an article relevant to one of the ways to support depression symptoms. Buyesse et al. (2018) speaks to the high comorbidity of depression and insomnia. There is much in the research literature speaking to the benefits of addressing sleep issues when treating depression. In this article I invite you to consider two ways sleep support helps with depression. Energy: poor sleep impacts physical and mental energy. Depending on the severity of someone’s depression symptoms their low energy may be significantly affecting their functi ..read more