Art Therapy

Click the Heart to ART logo to view the program page that contains info, photos, and more.

"For me, Art Therapy was the rescue boat that pulled me from the tumultuous waters of grief. Each week, with the program facilitator gently navigating, this little boat provided a safe haven from which to view the deep sadness of losing someone dear. With her empathetic support, we were invited to explore the depths, and with each new 'view' came greater understanding and greater strength."

Message to loved ones poster board

Hospice Wellington's Art Therapy program is a combination of traditional psychotherapy and creative expression. For individuals who do not have the words to express how they feel, Art Therapy can provide an alternative to traditional talk therapies.

Art and creative expression give voice to the processing of difficult experiences whilst finding new perspectives and developing emotional strength in order to move forward in a positive and healthy manner. The therapeutic interventions for Hospice Wellington's Art Therapy Program are designed to support community members through the experience of loss by providing a forum to express feelings, thoughts and reflections.
Art Therapy is a regulated profession and is recognized by the Canadian Mental Health Association with various theoretical frameworks and a wide range of applications. As a field of study and profession, Art Therapy is administered by trained Art Therapists.

Learn more about the evidence-based research that demonstrates the value of Art Therapy.

Our Programs

Art therapy tools

These monthly workshops are designed to support caregivers through the exploration of creative materials to promote self-expression and community connectivity. Gentle group discussion will conclude each workshop component to explore personal life experiences connected to caring for those facing progressive end-of-life experiences towards increased self-awareness and overall well-being. This cycle invites its participants to explore the use of creative materials and narrative therapies to gain personal insight and developing deeper understanding of personal perspectives towards increased resiliency.

These workshops support the whole person, including the exploration of:

Meaningful relationships, past and present
Current support systems
Environment and surroundings
Traditions, routines and daily activities
Emotional expression
Self-care strategies

This is an Individual closed group workshop program and exists in a community format. Individual and group discussion will take place throughout the workshop to support developing thoughts and an inclusive atmosphere. Individual creative projects will be completed during the workshop session and all materials are supplied.

“Participating in the Art Therapy Program has been a good distraction from my physical pain…I feel like when I am here, I am being given permission to live through the art-making process, to still have a voice, and to share it with others in this compassionate community that is Hospice Wellington”

A woman taking a glitter handprint of a resident

Art Therapy sessions are designed to support a Hospice Wellington resident or family through the exploration of intentional materials to promote creative expression and legacy. Gentle discussion will be used to explore personal life experiences connected to the end-of-life process engaging memory and emotion towards increased reconciliation with death. This legacy program invites its participants to select from several legacy projects using creative materials and narrative therapies to gain personal insight, to honour and acknowledge a beautiful life cradled within the journey towards death.

Legacy Work seeks to support the whole person or family unit, exploring:

Meaningful relationships, past and present
Family stories and value systems
Creative memorialization
Emotional expression
Acceptance and acknowledgment of death process

Family Legacy sessions can be scheduled with the Hospice Wellington Art Therapist on Thursday afternoons on a first-come, first serve basis. Please inquire directly with Residential Staff for availability. Please note further Art Therapy programming is available through Client and Volunteer Services for community members accessing support for grief and bereavement including group program and workshop offerings for adults and children throughout the calendar year.

"I learned that it's okay to be sad sometimes, now I know I am not alone. I was nervous to come, afraid I was going to cry but I surprised myself, and I had a really good time."

Youth Participant, 2018

An annual project designed and supported by local clinicians and dedicated volunteers to support youth impacted by grief related experiences in our community, exploring the use of creative expression to support individual and collective health and wellbeing. This event supports children between the ages of six and twelve years of age.

This closed group youth event seeks to support the whole person, through:

Explorarion of relationships, past and present
Current support systems
Environment and surroundings
Traditions, routines and daily activities
Emotional expression
Self-care strategies
Community connectivity

This is a one-day event. As this program exists in a community format, individual and group discussion will take place throughout the course of the event to support developing thoughts and an inclusive atmosphere. Individual and group invitations will be used throughout the event to support the youth as individuals as well as a collective. Special group closing celebration upon completion of event is also provided, with gentle discussion and sharing with parents and guardians upon the events conclusion with youth, clinicians and volunteers

"My legacy project gave me a way to express how much I love my Mom, to remember our special bond and how our story will be forever be connected"

Elephant out of soapstone

A variety of art-making materials will be provided to explore personal life experiences connected to the grief process and memory work towards increased self- awareness and overall well-being. This twelve-week cycle invites its participants to explore the use of art-making materials and narrative therapies to gain personal insight and developing deeper understanding of personal perspectives towards increased resiliency. Group program will be supported by Hospice Wellington's Art Therapist and trained Hospice Wellington Volunteers.

This closed group program seeks to support the whole person through exploration of:

Relationships, past and present
Current support systems
Environment and surroundings
Traditions, routines and daily activities
Emotional expression
Self-care strategies
Relationship realignment and meaning restoration

This is a 12-week closed group program. As this program exists in a community format, individual and group discussion will take place throughout the course of the program to support developing thoughts and an inclusive atmosphere. Weekly invitations and continued exploration of materials and process are strongly recommended to all participants to deepen the experience. Special group closing celebration upon completion of program is also provided.

"Having a way to connect to our family story after our Dad died was incredibly important to us, the Weave let us connect a piece of our story to the incredible community supported by Hospice Wellington."

Family Member, 2018

Community Weaving Project This is an annual community project designed and facilitated by Hospice Wellington's Art Therapist to support creative memorialization of personal and family life experiences towards the healthy integration of the individual and collective grief experience.

This experiential project is created each year by roughly a hundred individuals using tactile materials and personal experience to co-create this meaningful project that then resides Hospice Wellington's ten-bed residential facility.

This co-creative community project event seeks to support the whole person exploring:

Meaningful relationships, past and present
Current support systems
Developing resilience
Environment
Community connectivity

This is a one-day event. As this program exists in a community format, individual and group discussion will take place throughout the course of the event to support developing thoughts and an inclusive atmosphere. Gentle invitations will be provided throughout the event to support individuals who would like to participate. All materials are provided, and all attendants of Hospice Wellington's annual Hike for Hospice event are invited to participate.

"I love attending the Encaustic Card-making Workshops, and the wonderful volunteers that support us! A great evening to work with simple materials to make something really beautiful"

Card-Making Participant, 2018

Encaustic card examples A monthly workshop facilitated and supported by Hospice Wellington's trained Volunteers to invite gentle and creative expression through the creation of the handmade Hospice Wellington Encaustic Cards. These workshops focus on the use of art as therapeutic in nature, fun and relaxing in addition to strengthening community connections with others. No previous experience is necessary, just a willingness to explore and engage within a compassionate and supportive environment.

This co-creative community workshop event seeks to support the whole person exploring:

New art-making practice
Gentle conversation within a supportive environment
Relaxation, enjoyment and fun
Emotional expression
Self-care strategies
Community connectivity

This monthly workshop exists in a community format supported by Hospice Wellington Volunteers to encourage community engagements and accessing creative expression for self-care and relaxation. All materials are provided, and do not require any previous experience.

Encaustic Card-making Workshops are suitable for all those facing end-of-life experiences or grief and bereavement.

These workshops are designed to support the individual through the exploration of creative materials to promote creative expression and community connectivity. Gentle group discussion will conclude each workshop component to explore personal life experiences connected to the grief process and memory work towards increased self- awareness and overall well-being. This cycle invites its participants to explore the use of creative materials and narrative therapies to gain personal insight and developing deeper understanding of personal perspectives towards increased resiliency.

These Workshops seeks to support the whole person, including:

Relationships, past and present:
Current support systems
Environment and surroundings
Traditions, routines and daily activities
Emotional expression
Self-care strategies

"I want to do it all, but I lack the knowledge and sometimes the Courage to do it on my own. The exchange of ideas and seeing others experiment with a variety of styles and projects from so many talented artists during workshops and Open Studio truly is inspirational and uplifting"

"My children were nervous to attend and now they can't stop talking about it. There is no comparison to this program, I have never experienced anything else like it"

Parent/Guardian, 2018

The Open Studio concept encourages freedom of thoughts and exploratory use of creative materials to support self-expression. This program aims to provide and promote a creative therapeutic environment for all Hospice Wellington clients, supporting the continuation of the individual journey through art-making and narrative practices. Open to those interested in exploring creative expression on their healing journey and to support consistent self-care practices.

The Open Studio program seeks to support the whole person, providing space to explore, A variety of visual materials, Discuss and expand on thoughts and creative ideas, Work independently and self-directed, Engage in dialogue with resident Art Therapist and trained Hospice Wellington volunteers in support of the Open Studio Program.

This is an eight-week semi-open group program. This program operates with a semi-open atmosphere and does require participants to attend each week of a given Open Studio cycle. The Open Studio Program does, however, require a moderate degree of self-direction and self-initiative as it is not structured as a closed group process with regulated engagements with the lead facilitator or Art Therapist.

Hospice Wellington’s signature Art Therapy Program hosts gentle interventions to help our community discover deeper connections to their personal life stories. Engaging our community through the use of intentional art-making materials and expressive writings, hosting public exhibitions for our community to see and feel vibrant connections, shaped by memory and lived experiences.