Art Therapy
“Art heals by giving form to what cannot be spoken.”
Shaun McNiff
What is Art
Therapy?
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that integrates creative processes such as drawing, painting, collage, and sculpture—within a therapeutic relationship to support emotional expression, self-awareness, and psychological well-being.
Facilitated by a trained art therapist, art-making is used as a therapeutic modality to explore thoughts, emotions, and experiences that may be difficult to articulate verbally. The focus is on the therapeutic process rather than artistic skill or the final product.
Art therapy may be provided in individual, group, or family contexts and can be adapted to meet the developmental, cultural, and clinical needs of children, youth, and adults. It is commonly used to support individuals experiencing trauma, emotional regulation difficulties, anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions.
Potential outcomes of art therapy include improved emotional regulation, enhanced coping strategies, increased self-understanding, and greater insight into personal experiences.
Who can benefit from Art Therapy?
Art therapy can benefit people of all ages facing emotional, mental health, or developmental challenges. Children and adolescents dealing with anxiety, trauma, behavioural issues, or learning differences often respond well to creative approaches that allow nonverbal expression and play-based processing.
Adults experiencing trauma, PTSD, depression, grief, stress, relationship difficulties, or chronic illness may find art therapy helpful for exploring feelings, building coping skills, and accessing insight that words alone cannot reach. It is also effective for older adults confronting cognitive decline or life transitions, supporting memory, identity, and emotional well‑being.
What areas do I focus
on?
I work with individuals impacted by:
Trauma, PTSD, and Complex PTSD
Stress management
Emotional regulation and nervous system support
Anxiety and depression
Childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect
Domestic violence and family trauma
Sexual abuse and assault
Grief and loss
Life transitions
Immigration and cultural adjustment
What can I expect?
Therapy sessions are collaborative and client-centred, shaped by your needs and goals. Sessions may include talk therapy, art therapy, or a combination of both, depending on what feels most supportive for you.
No prior art experience is required. Creative materials are offered as an optional way to support expression, reflection, and emotional awareness.
Each session is unique. You may arrive with a specific focus, or you may prefer to begin without a clear direction. Both are welcome.
I do not interpret or analyze your artwork. Instead, therapy offers space for reflection, awareness, and personal meaning-making through both conversation and creative process.
Our work together is confidential, respectful, and grounded in collaboration.
What are the fees?
Session Rate:
60 minutes: CAD$180
Free Consultation:
I offer a 20-minute free consultation to explore your needs and see if working together feels like a good fit.
Sliding Scale Option:
I offer a limited number of sliding scale spaces. If cost is a barrier and you are interested in a sliding scale rate, please reach out to inquire about current availability.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged the full session fee.
About Me
Dilan Cicek, BA, DVATI, RTC
I am an art therapist and Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada) offering online individual art therapy sessions.
I welcome you into a safe, creative space where therapy is approached with care, curiosity, and respect for your unique experiences. I work with individuals navigating concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, loss, and trauma, supporting them in exploring their therapeutic goals at a pace that feels manageable and supportive.
I believe that each person’s healing process is unique. My approach is tailored to each individual, shaped by your needs, values, and lived experiences. Together, we work collaboratively, using art-making and reflection as tools for awareness, expression, and emotional regulation.
My work is grounded in trauma-informed, relational, and mindful practices, with attention to emotional safety, choice, and consent throughout the therapeutic process.
I am bilingual and offer sessions in English and Turkish.
Qualifications
Graduate-Level Diploma in Art Therapy, Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Guidance and Psychological Counselling, Mersin University
One-Year Gestalt Therapy Training Program for Professionals, Gestalt Institute of Toronto