Art Therapy –
Art therapy is the language of the heart and soul.
When heart and soul fall silent, we forget our beingness…
The art therapy process encounters imagery that becomes numinous for us,
Telling of spiritual truth both in us and beyond us.
Carl Sagar, 2001
The Inner Journey
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a gentle method that passes the logical mind and helps you access emotions and issues from the creative side, when words are not enough.
Art-making has long been a way to connect to the creative side of ourselves. As we age, our childhood creativity often goes ‘underground,’ and we function in the realm of linear, left-brain thinking.
Art therapy is especially good for working with trauma and children (pre-verbal). The art ‘contains’ the emotions and the therapist helps you process at a safe level. Often the process can get to the heart of the issue imore quickly than traditional ‘talk’ therapy.
The art is a a tangible record you can revisit for further meaning. Art-making can be combined with journalling, movement or other expressive arts.
What you can expect in an art therapy session
My role is to facilitate, guide and support you, so that you can find your own personal meaning from the art: I focus on your best hopes, resources and desire for change rather than the problem. I don’t interpret or judge, but help you notice important themes that often bypass logical awareness, My clients notice transformation and results within a short amount of time, often eliminating the need for long-term therapy.
I create a safe space to explore and have a supply of appropriate materials. Your work can take different forms: collage, sculpture, journals, or mixed media. Artistic ability is not required but people are often surprised at their own creativity and want to learn more!
Sessions are 1.5 hrs: $125 and can be held online.
Nancy, without a doubt, you truly have a gift of facilitating the heart/soul sharing through these times of artistic expression.
Amay D., Calgary, AB
Courses and Classes
Sanctuary – Re-examining the Nest
The old home, the old job, the old family, the old me, may be gone and “who I am I now,” remains. What forms our new sanctuary and is not tied to circumstances or feelings? We’ll explore our journey through expressive arts, the Secret Place, the Listening Place, the Dwelling Place, the Grafting Place, and the Holy Place. You’ll have a visual record and multi dimensional connection in body mind and spirit.
Your Whole Heart
You’ll explore in a safe space, yes, the messier the better!, and other parts of you asking for attention in very chaotic times: how to prepare pages for mixed media journalling, including watercolour technique. We will create together in our own art making time (you can be as messy as you want!), do a bit of reflective writing and close with a sharing circle. You can move from chaos to calm.
Bring Forth the Bud
For this creative ‘budding’, your media is your choice. Watercolour might not be your thing, but maybe pen and ink is. Maybe you like putting together fabric or fibre to create something new? Maybe you love the immediacy of collage and have a stash of treasures that are speaking to you. Maybe you love taking pictures. Maybe you have some previous art pieces that are calling you back.
Sounds fun? It is!
Your unique personal meaning blossoms in the art and a ‘budding’ happens as we witness and celebrate our buds’ ‘buds.’
Drawing Out of Darkness-
Enhancing photography with mixed media
Do you have some special photos you would like to take to another level?
Learn how to alter your photographs with other materials to create a beautiful piece of art. Experience aha’s by sharing with a like-minded, intimate community.
Leave with resources for mounting your photos and just be inspired creatively to do more!
Rewriting Your Story with Altered Books
Learn how to make an ‘altered book’ by changing an existing book with a variety of art materials: collage, painting, drawing, word art and journaling,
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will explore what it means to be part of God’s story and create images and metaphors that speak to you.
Honour your season of life, experience a deeper awareness and renewing of God-gifted purpose through art and sharing in community, create powerful and meaningful art that connects you to yourself and to others.
VINES – Visioning Images in Nature Empowering Soul Healing
Based in John 15, the “I am” statement of Jesus as ‘the Vine”, VINES (Visioning Images in Nature Empowering Soul-healing) is a unique 5-part creative blueprint that I have used in work with addictions recovery and cancer recovery groups as a 3 hour workshop experiential. The universal meaning of the vine: self-vine, pruning, grafting, nurture and fruit can be applied in many areas as a process of transformation and growth.
Questions? I’d love to help
Sessions and Group workshops can be tailored to needs with a variety of media. Let me know how I can support you.
Nancy Thygesen (BFA, MPS) is an artist, faith-based art therapist, movement specialist and inspiring speaker, sharing and teaching through the universal languages of art and movement. My mission in therapy and creating art is to support and inspire that creative light that heals mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Click here to get my downloadable PDF Cultivating Creativity.