Andrea Brassard M.A., CCC, RYT

"That which you have tried yourself, which you have experienced, which you have recognized as true, and which will be beneficial to you and to others; believe that, and shape your conduct to it." - Buddha

Creative Arts Therapy and You

 ‘What is health? What is healing? What is it that lifts my heart, my spirit, my sense of wholeness and well-being? Is it a strong sense of identity, and of living connection with my self? Is it expression, raw, emotional, creative, and authentic? Is it composure; the ability to act in the world rather than re-acting to the world? Who am I, what do I seek, and where do I begin? ‘

About Creative Arts Therapy

Therapy is a sacred and necessary space for exploring the self, a space that must be valued, held, and protected. All cultures throughout time have had a space for healing, for self-searching, for introspection, expression, and authentic connection to and validation of one’s experience. Most cultures have used creative arts in this process, because they provide an automatic and natural outlet for expressing and understanding the most intimate aspects of the self. Therapy in our culture is a designated space for the exploration and expansion of self. We all need time and space allotted to this most basic and primary existential need. It is within this space that we can look beyond our everyday lives, our everyday habits and interactions, to see the awe inspiring earth shattering enormity and complexity of ourselves, our existence, our challenges, and our triumphs. We can easily plod through the days without acknowledging the miracle of being, and the burdens that we face so diligently day after day. Or we can give ourselves a space to explore our lives, from which we gain a sense of perspective, of agency, and of growth and movement in ourselves.

The creative arts are natural means through which this exploration takes place. The deepest and most difficult parts of the self can be illuminated through the raw, abstract, all encompassing nature of artistic expression.

Here I am: Red - juicy, vivacious, alive; Grey - somber, heavy, encumbered. Or perhaps I am sounds; Light – melodic, fluid, fleeting; Loud – clashing, clanging, grasping. Sometimes there is no other way to express myself, except in music, in painting, in poetry, story, and play. Performance can be a most fulfilling way to share myself with my community, to experience myself being heard and seen; to be witnessed as a positive and creative agent. The Creative Arts allow for all of this, as well as a more distinguished sense of self and identity, of strength and skill, and of purpose and power to act in the world.

As a Creative Arts Therapist I follow you on your personal journey through thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I am here to protect a space in which you can explore everything you think, feel, imagine, and to encourage you to value and integrate these into your expressions of self, in all the forms that these take; from your actions and reactions in day to day living, to purposeful creations of artistic merit. Every expression of the self is a part of your life and your experience. I am here to witness you, and to support you in your journey of self-discovery and self-determination.

I have comprehensive experience in facilitation and therapy involving the Arts. I utilize the Creative Arts to motivate healthy lifestyle changes and to inspire the body, mind, and spirit. I bring my love for and experience as an actor, yoga teacher, personal trainer, and art-maker-of-all-trades to my practice, and foster a supportive space. I take a holistic approach to healing and therapy, and I believe that everyone has an inner Artist with healthy, creative, life-promoting instincts and abilities.   

My office is centrally located at the south-east corner of Yonge and Eglinton (2221 Yonge St. Suite 504) across the street from Eglinton Subway station. Here is a map. I look forward to meeting you!