WA+C is honoured to have the privilege of being a host site for Yael Fehr, a student at the WHEAT Institute, as she continues her practicum work this spring. In order to provide context for those unfamiliar with the WHEAT Institute or Expressive Arts Therapy, Yael has provided some information below on who she is, what Expressive Arts Therapy is, and what her philosophy regarding therapeutic relationships is.
If you are interested in being a part of the weekly Slow Stitch group led by Yael here at the gallery, please email admin@winklerarts.com for more information.
If you are interested in booking one-on-one therapy sessions with Yael, please contact Kimberly Thiessen Counselling via email or phone at kim@kimberlythiessencounselling.ca or (431) 349-1092.
Yael Fehr: Journeyer and Co-Journeyer
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”Frederick Buechner
I have been a co-journeyer since high school, and have felt a deep calling to this role of holding space. Not long ago, I found myself at the other end of the therapeutic relationship when I began to journey the difficult place of mental illness. It was there that I returned to the arts of my youth to find solace, self expression, and healing. Self expression is an important way to discover who we were created to be. Because I believe that creativity is an essential part of healing, I began to explore how to add art to the role of therapist, a role I already practiced. In my studies at WHEAT Institute, I found that I desire to bring out the curiosity in others, about themselves, in a creative environment. I believe in a multimodal approach and help clients explore many art forms at a pace that is both comfortable and stretching. I long to see us all expand our range of play, allowing the inner child to live in the moment and find hope.
What is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive Arts Therapy is a holistic approach where a relationship is formed between creativity and a gaining of knowledge about, and the expression of, self. The use of many modalities, such as visual, music, movement, drama, mindfulness, written word, and others, allows for the exploration of change making. In a session we flow from real life concerns into the imaginative space of creativity and back again in search of meaning, new perspectives, and possible answers to the questions in our lives. In the creative space, process is more important than creating a piece of art, and skill is not required. As a therapist of Expressive Arts Therapy, I believe in the power of art in helping clients find a good and meaningful way in the world they live in.
The Therapeutic Relationship
As an Expressive Arts Therapist, it is my role to work diligently towards a strong therapeutic relationship. I believe that there are four qualities of a strong therapeutic relationship and they include that the therapist be trauma informed, that there be trust, care and respect towards each other, goals that are set and worked on, and the gentle repair of ruptures within the relationship. A trauma informed therapist provides a safe setting where the therapist is knowledgeable about how trauma affects a person, mind, body, and soul and a client has the freedom to choose, a right to thoughts and feelings and experiences kind positive regard of the therapist.
If you are interested in being a part of the weekly Slow Stitch group led by Yael here at the gallery, please email admin@winklerarts.com for more information.
If you are interested in booking one-on-one therapy sessions with Yael, please contact Kimberly Thiessen Counselling via email or phone at kim@kimberlythiessencounselling.ca or (431) 349-1092.