My name is Roni Freeman and I am a professionally trained Art Therapist, a Professional Member in good standing with the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA #76376953) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy association (CCPA #11265886), and the owner of Sandcastle Art Therapy & Counseling Services.
I am fortunate to combine my two life long passions, art and counseling psychology, to help others overcome adversity, whether it be mental health issues, addiction, trauma, loneliness, or navigating everyday stresses. I bring a humanistic, client-centred, nonjudgmental, trauma informed approach and enjoy working with clients of all ages from all walks of life. I believe art is a way for people to express themselves when words fail or seem not enough.
I earned my Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy (DVATI) from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology. My undergraduate thesis examined gratitude’s impact loneliness and self-ageism in older adults and my graduate diploma final project focused on the use of Art Therapy with individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder. I am committed to life long learning, holding a BSc in Health Information Science, a Diploma in Computer Systems, and numerous trainings and certificates in leadership, coaching, violence prevention, and conflict resolution. I am currently enrolled with Yorkville University to obtain my Masters of Clinical Counseling.
I have worked in healthcare for over 30 years and know it can be intimidating trying to find someone who is a good fit to discuss your struggles and overwhelming feelings. While my focus is on art therapy, sessions are guided by the needs of the client whether it is art making or talking. As with traditional talk therapies, art therapy utilizes various techniques aiming to calm, explore, and deepen understanding of the client, their self and experiences.
You do not have to be an artist to participate in art therapy sessions. Art therapy is about exploring your self and experiences through the use of art materials. It is not about the aesthetic quality of the art made.
