What I Do as a Therapeutic Art Facilitator

Have you ever wondered what actually happens during a therapeutic art session? Or what it might be like to work with someone who doesn’t just listen to your story but helps you process it through art?

If you’re curious about what I do—and how art can support healing—this post is for you.

Why I Do This Work

Healing Art Journey was born from my own story—a story of grief, trauma, anxiety, and recovery.

There was a time when I could only feel one thing: anger. I didn’t allow myself to feel grief, sadness, or fear. I numbed everything else with food and alcohol, trying to stay afloat in a world that felt overwhelming.

But art made space for all of it. It helped me begin to feel again. To reconnect with parts of myself I had shut out. To find stillness. And to listen to my body again.

Painting and journaling became my anchors as I moved through PTSD and depression. During my recovery from alcohol abuse, art offered me something language couldn’t: a safe way to express, to feel, and to rebuild trust in myself—gently and honestly.

I’ve now been sober for five years. And that journey has only deepened my commitment to supporting others through theirs.

So, What Do I Actually Do?

As a Therapeutic Art Facilitator, I use creativity as a healing tool.

I hold space for people to explore their emotions, their stories, and their healing at a pace that feels safe and supported. Our sessions are not about learning how to draw or paint. They’re about learning how to feel, process, and shift.

Here’s what a typical session includes:

✨ Check-in

We begin with a gentle check-in. You share what’s present for you—emotions, thoughts, body sensations. This helps guide our time together.

🎨 Choosing a Direction

Together, we choose a creative directive based on what you need. This might involve watercolor, collage, clay, journaling, or something else entirely. No experience needed—your presence is enough.

🖌️ Art-Making

You create. You explore what’s within you using colour, texture, and form. It’s not about how it looks. It’s about what it helps you feel and release.

💬 Dialogue + Insight

We reflect on what was created. Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we let the art speak. Together, we explore any emotions, stories, or insights that arise.

🌿 Check-out + Integration

We end with time to ground and reflect. You leave with clarity or calm—or sometimes just a bit more space inside. We might set gentle goals to support you between sessions.

Real Stories from Clients

One client shared how she used art to navigate her mother’s passing and complex emotions around an eating disorder:

"Each session was based on a helpful theme, guiding us through our creative experiences. I often experienced the surprise of creating something unexpected, which showed me exactly what I needed. I always left Janaline’s groups having learned something new and helpful on my journey of healing." — Gillian, Canada

Another client described how one simple creative act changed how she approached a real-life challenge:

"In one session I was able to articulate my aspirations and goals through creating a craft I then literally took with me on a tough journey and used it to help visualize my desired outcome, which did in fact come to be! The sessions were very enlightening, and yet still fun."

Ready to Begin?

I offer a free 1-hour connection session, which is a gentle introduction to therapeutic art. We can explore what’s present for you, how creativity might support your healing, and whether working together feels like the right next step.

🖇️ Book your free connection session here

Or if you’d like to explore on your own first, you can download my free Therapeutic Art WRAP Workbook—a wellness roadmap that uses creative prompts and journaling to help you reconnect with your emotional well-being.

🎁 Download your free WRAP workbook here

Whatever path you choose, I’m so glad you’re here.

With warmth,
Janaline