About
WHEAT Institute
Wellness Center
Online Art & Expressive Arts Therapy
The WHEAT Online Wellness Centre provides online groups, individual art therapy and expressive arts sessions for healing and wellness. Student therapists are available to help you amplify your creativity and self-awareness, build self-esteem, relax and come into the present moment. A variety of arts media will be explored including paint, clay, pastels and more. Expressive arts sessions incorporate a variety of arts modalities such as visual art, poetry, drama and movement.
Through this program, students are able to complete a portion of their practicum hours. All students receive regular supervision with experienced, registered art and expressive arts therapists. Due to insurance obligations we are unable to offer service outside of Canada.
This unique time in history calls on us to find ways to manage our stress and build community through playful creative exploration.
We invite you to join us! All are welcome!
Individual and group sessions allow participants a safe space to connect and create. We are a strength-focused centre, supporting all individuals interested in a therapeutic arts experience. Art therapy provides a creative, empowering and inspiring approach to address life challenges for a variety of concerns. Our wellness centre will focus on enhancing client wellness through creativity. Read on on to see how you can access art and expressive arts therapy and wellness groups with student therapists in their first and second years of training.
Please note that if you are interested in taking classes at WHEAT we recommend you approach another training institute for therapy with a student therapist.
Individual Online Sessions
Individual Support: Art therapy and expressive arts sessions support people in using their creativity to deal with life challenges. Our student therapists can support you with feeling greater sense of life balance, wellness, and relaxation. We offer all sessions on a pay-as-you-can basis, with the following suggested contribution.
Read on to meet our student therapists and learn how to register.
Individual Session
Student Practitioners
Lara MacPherson
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
Lara is an Art Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy Student dedicated to providing compassionate and person-centered support to individuals on their unique paths of self-discovery and healing. With a diverse educational background in psychology and film production, Lara seamlessly integrates their passion for experimental video, photography, and collage art into their therapeutic practice, creating a dynamic and multimodal experience for their clients.
Passionate about social justice and inclusivity, Lara incorporates feminist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed frameworks to ensure a culturally sensitive approach in their work. As an advocate and member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and disability communities, Lara brings a profound understanding of intersectionality to their practice. In sessions, Lara prioritizes collaboration and respects each individual's autonomy, valuing their clients as the experts of their own lives. They strive to cultivate a therapeutic environment marked by flexibility, empathy, and non-judgment, empowering clients to navigate their journeys with compassion and resilience.
Beyond their studies, Lara has professional experience in victim services, providing supportive counseling and public education to aid in trauma recovery and raise awareness about gender-based violence. Outside of their professional work, Lara enjoys participating in a book club, exploring thrift stores, building LEGO creations, and roller skating.
Lara warmly welcomes clients to connect with them for sessions via Zoom.
Maria-Hélèna P. B.F.A., M.A.
Pronouns: She/They
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
My name is Maria-Hélèna, and my pronouns are she and they. I'm a lifelong artist with a background in visual art, multimedia, theatre, photography, writing, movement, eco-arts, installations and music. I am also a mother/parent, caregiver and community carer. My journey brought me to art therapy because I believe in the transformative, healing and liberating potential of every artform, and that art is as natural to humans as is dreaming. As a certified yoga teacher with decades of personal practice in yoga and meditation, I incorporate body and breath-centered practices, somatic awareness, mindfulness and meditation into my art therapy and expressive arts practice.
Using the creative process combined with body-centered awareness and mindfulness, working with individuals and groups to promote wellness, cope with stress, and care for themselves and others through self-inquiry. Our therapeutic relationship would be built on trust, safety, confidentiality, and bearing witness as I accompany you on your journey to well-being, healing and growth. On the basis of affinity and lived experiences, I wish to support parents, caregivers, first responders, front-line health care workers, 2SLGBTQIA+, neurodiverse and neuroqueer individuals as well as those facing mental or physical health challenges, including disability and chronic illness, and those whose identities have been historically marginalized or who do not fit into the margins.
I gratefully acknowledge the privilege to live and practice on the traditional land of the Kanyen'keha:ka and Anishinaabemowin people under the Two Row Wampum and am committed to respectful application Indigenous solidarity, allyship and trauma-sensitive approaches to healing.
In art therapy and expressive arts therapy practice, I work with individuals and groups utilizing humanistic, anti-oppressive and mindfulness-based approaches with a social justice lens. Sessions are available online, or in-person in Eastern Ontario, and discovery meetings are available to learn more about one another and the work we might do together. I look forward to serving you.
Tina Overbury
Second Year: Expressive Arts Therapy
Tina is an Expressive Arts Therapist (in training), storyteller, artist and story/author coach. She works in two capacities: As an emerging Expressive Arts Therapist using expression as a path to healing, and storytelling (visual, spoken, written) and performance as a way to build resilience through connection.
Her individual and group facilitation work is heavily influenced by the principles of circle work (Evelyn Zellerer, Peace of the Circle and Restorative justice) and Indigenous ways of knowing and being (Norm Leech, The Village Workshop and PowHERhouse). Tina is currently writing her first book, Story from The Core based on her development of twelve core stories rooted in creation stories from around the world, and her last decade of individual care and support of artists and writers. Tina offers to every person she works with that each of us has been entrusted with something rich and beautiful, and it is innate to the story of who we are.
She is also an artist, having created pieces for film, the stage, and publication. Her work is rooted in myth, mysticism, and always with a spirit of PLAY. Tina is a mom to three children now 14, 20 and 22 and lives on Bowen Island surrounded by trees, the ocean and wind.
Ozzie Tran
Pronouns: She/Her
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
Services available in English and Vietnamese
Ozzie Tran is an Art and Expressive Arts Therapy student based in Vancouver, dedicated to offering a safe and compassionate space where clients can explore, heal, and grow through creative expression. She supports individuals seeking resilience, inner peace, talent development, and harmony within themselves and their relationships.
Her therapeutic approach integrates intermodality, mindfulness, person-centered focus, nature-based practices, and trauma-informed, multicultural awareness, all grounded in deep compassion and non-judgmental support. This combination helps Ozzie assist clients in fostering healthy self-expression, healing emotional wounds, and transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and empowerment. Ozzie offers both individual and group therapy to a diverse range of clients, including immigrants, international students, abuse survivors, trauma carriers, teenagers, adults, families, and communities.
Drawing from her experiences as a Vietnamese Canadian immigrant, she has a deep understanding of the challenges related to language barriers, cultural adjustments, support circles, self-esteem, and the quest for identity. Her journey of cultivating inner peace, strength, and compassion led her to expressive arts therapy, where she discovered a path to learn, heal, and serve others. Outside of work, she enjoys nature, Metta meditation, exploring books, and cherishing moments with her cat and loved ones. Ozzie believes in the interconnectedness of all beings and is committed to walking alongside you on your unique path toward healing, growth, and the blossoming of your fullest potential.
Chantal Parenty
Pronouns: She/Her
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
After a 20+ year career as a hairdresser and an acclaimed craftsperson, I feel Art and Expressive Arts Therapy is the perfect next step for my life journey. My background has given me a unique insight into the power of self-expression and the impact of societal expectations on our self-image. I am an unapologetically fat, neurodivergent, therapist-in-training.
I aim to provide care that is accessible to all bodies and peoples. My work is grounded in anti-racism, anti-oppression, sex-positive, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming, and Disability justice and viewed through an Intersectional lens. I strive to be aware of my privilege while challenging the systems of oppression that surround me. I believe in creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful space where no subject is taboo.
My current focus is on weight stigma and body-trauma caused by Diet-culture. I come at this work from a Fat liberation and Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective. This work is deeply personal and as a believer in lifelong learning, I know I have many more lessons to learn on this topic, but I hope we can discover some joy for life and our bodies together.
Online Art & Expressive Arts Therapy Groups
Online Groups: Art and expressive arts therapy groups utilize the arts as a medium for personal transformation and wellness. Groups may include visual art, poetry, movement, drama, music, storytelling and mindfulness as ways to help people in address a variety of concerns. Explore the program descriptions to see details about each group and check the bios to meet the facilitators. Groups provide wonderful opportunities to build sense of community, express yourself creatively, and learn about yourself and others.
Read on to meet our student group facilitators and see their offerings in our calendar.
Upcoming
Groups
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Student
Group Facilitators
Maria-Hélèna P. B.F.A., M.A.
Pronouns: She/They
Lara MacPherson
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
My name is Maria-Hélèna, and my pronouns are she and they. I'm a lifelong artist with a background in visual art, multimedia, theatre, photography, writing, movement, eco-arts, installations and music. I am also a mother/parent, caregiver and community carer. My journey brought me to art therapy because I believe in the transformative, healing and liberating potential of every artform, and that art is as natural to humans as is dreaming. As a certified yoga teacher with decades of personal practice in yoga and meditation, I incorporate body and breath-centered practices, somatic awareness, mindfulness and meditation into my art therapy and expressive arts practice.
Using the creative process combined with body-centered awareness and mindfulness, working with individuals and groups to promote wellness, cope with stress, and care for themselves and others through self-inquiry. Our therapeutic relationship would be built on trust, safety, confidentiality, and bearing witness as I accompany you on your journey to well-being, healing and growth. On the basis of affinity and lived experiences, I wish to support parents, caregivers, first responders, front-line health care workers, 2SLGBTQIA+, neurodiverse and neuroqueer individuals as well as those facing mental or physical health challenges, including disability and chronic illness, and those whose identities have been historically marginalized or who do not fit into the margins.
I gratefully acknowledge the privilege to live and practice on the traditional land of the Kanyen'keha:ka and Anishinaabemowin people under the Two Row Wampum and am committed to respectful application Indigenous solidarity, allyship and trauma-sensitive approaches to healing.
In art therapy and expressive arts therapy practice, I work with individuals and groups utilizing humanistic, anti-oppressive and mindfulness-based approaches with a social justice lens. Sessions are available online, or in-person in Eastern Ontario, and discovery meetings are available to learn more about one another and the work we might do together. I look forward to serving you.
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
Lara is an Art Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy Student dedicated to providing compassionate and person-centered support to individuals on their unique paths of self-discovery and healing. With a diverse educational background in psychology and film production, Lara seamlessly integrates their passion for experimental video, photography, and collage art into their therapeutic practice, creating a dynamic and multimodal experience for their clients.
Passionate about social justice and inclusivity, Lara incorporates feminist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed frameworks to ensure a culturally sensitive approach in their work. As an advocate and member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and disability communities, Lara brings a profound understanding of intersectionality to their practice. In sessions, Lara prioritizes collaboration and respects each individual's autonomy, valuing their clients as the experts of their own lives. They strive to cultivate a therapeutic environment marked by flexibility, empathy, and non-judgment, empowering clients to navigate their journeys with compassion and resilience.
Beyond their studies, Lara has professional experience in victim services, providing supportive counseling and public education to aid in trauma recovery and raise awareness about gender-based violence. Outside of their professional work, Lara enjoys participating in a book club, exploring thrift stores, building LEGO creations, and roller skating.
Lara warmly welcomes clients to connect with them for sessions via Zoom.
Lysane Martel
Pronouns: She/Her
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
My intent as an art and expressive art therapist is to create opportunities for self-expression by inviting participants to discover, learn, and experiment with various modalities. I hope to create a setting inspiring play, tapping imagination, and fostering expression so as to allow emotions to emerge verbally and non- verbally, be acknowledged, and be set free. My life is anchored in the well-being of others, whether as a Treatment Home Parent, a Military Officer, a mother of four boys, or through my personal interests in intuitive painting, play and neuroscience. I am incredibly excited about this new chapter of my life!
Chantal Parenty
Pronouns: She/Her
Second Year: Art and Expressive Arts Therapy
After a 20+ year career as a hairdresser and an acclaimed craftsperson, I feel Art and Expressive Arts Therapy is the perfect next step for my life journey. My background has given me a unique insight into the power of self-expression and the impact of societal expectations on our self-image. I am an unapologetically fat, neurodivergent, therapist-in-training.
I aim to provide care that is accessible to all bodies and peoples. My work is grounded in anti-racism, anti-oppression, sex-positive, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming, and Disability justice and viewed through an Intersectional lens. I strive to be aware of my privilege while challenging the systems of oppression that surround me. I believe in creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful space where no subject is taboo.
My current focus is on weight stigma and body-trauma caused by Diet-culture. I come at this work from a Fat liberation and Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective. This work is deeply personal and as a believer in lifelong learning, I know I have many more lessons to learn on this topic, but I hope we can discover some joy for life and our bodies together.
To Participate You Will Need:
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an internet connection and a willingness to meet online
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the ability to connect to Zoom
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basic art supplies
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a sketch book or paper
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signed consent to participate in either group or individual counselling
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an emergency phone contact who can be reached during the sessions
To Register:
Please fill out our form to register for either group or individual sessions, or both. If you have a preference for a student therapist, please indicate at the bottom of the form, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Due to insurance obligations we are unable to offer service outside of Canada.
If you register for a group, your group facilitator will send you an email to arrange a time for a brief intake session.
If you register for individual art or expressive arts therapy, our Community Outreach & Practicum Support will arrange a time for a brief intake session and refer you to an available student therapist.