the Art of Self-Love | VANCOUVER 6-WEEK Art Therapy Group

This is a 6-week therapeutic group, running weekly on Tuesdays from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm PST.

MAR 19 | MAR 26 | APR 2 | APR 9 | APR 16 | APR 23

* This group begins on the spring Equinox! Celebrate the start of spring with discount code EQUINOX for 19% off until February 29.

* Please read through the group description and policies before registering. If you would prefer to pay via e-transfer and avoid Eventbrite added fees, please email [email protected]

Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship that you have. As we focus on nurturing our relationship with ourselves, we begin to connect with our own needs and cultivate more self-love.

? Guided therapeutic art activities focus on connecting with our innermost selves through the five love languages.

✨ The five love languages are:

1 quality time

2 receiving gifts

3 physical touch

4 words of affirmation

5 acts of service (devotion).

The intention of this group is to provide a space where we can explore these themes through the use of symbol, image and metaphor. You will have the opportunity to:

• check in about thoughts, feelings and energy week-to-week
• dive deeper into an understanding of self-love and self-compassion
• journal, make art and share with the group
• dedicate time to self-care alongside others

✨ ✨

No art experience is required to participate in this group! We focus on the process of creation, rather than achieving "good art". There will be at least 45 minutes of independent art-making time during each session. You will be given prompts or suggestions for art making, and then you can choose how to respond.

This group is facilitated by registered clinical counsellor + art therapist Elspeth Robertson. The group runs weekly in downtown Vancouver on Tuesday evenings March 19 - April 23, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.

The art studio is located in a beautiful heritage building in Gastown. The building has 3 steps at the entrance and unfortunately is not wheelchair accessible. At the current state of the pandemic, masks are optional.

See if this group is right for you:

Committing to a 6-week group therapy process can be overwhelming if you don't know what to expect. Elspeth offers a 20-minute complimentary phone consultation to all prospective group participants. This consultation is a time to form a connection and ask any questions you have about the process.

Book your introductory call now!

M aterials

All materials are provided for this group! In the studio, you will find:

• Coloured paper, cardstock, construction paper, mixed media paper, crepe paper
• Pencils, coloured pencils, felt tip markers, wax crayons, oil pastels, chalk pastels
• Watercolour paint, tempera paint, gouache
• Plasticine, air dry clay, oven-bake clay
• Pipe cleaners, pom poms, feathers
• Magazine cut-outs, scissors, glue
• Yarn, string, thread, tapestry needles, fabric

YOUR INVESTMENT

• The group cost is $570 (or $95 per session). Early bird discount rate of $498 (or $83 per session) is available until March 5! When you register for the group, you will be charged the full amount. Prices include tax.

• There is one discounted ticket available at $390. If you do not see this option when registering, it has been already been purchased.
• Please try your best to attend all sessions. If you know in advance you will be missing more than one session, consider registering during a different season - this group is run approximately twice a year.

If you would prefer to pay via e-transfer and avoid Eventbrite added fees, please email [email protected]

• Registration is open to adults (18+) of any gender.
• This group is limited to 6 participants to allow for deep processing
• As this is an in-person event, punctuality is appreciated. Participants are encouraged to arrive 5-10 minutes early to settle in before the workshop starts.

Refunds & Cancellations

• Elspeth is unable to issue refunds for any missed sessions.
• If you need to cancel your registration, you must do so within 5 DAYS OF THE FIRST SESSION to receive a refund.
• Feelings of safety and support can be disrupted with late joining members. Registration is not permitted past the start date. Missing the first two sessions similarly prohibits future participation; in this instance, a refund cannot be issued.

This group focuses on the art process, not the art product. There will be no artistic instruction. Instead participants are given prompts/suggestions and they can choose how they would like to respond. There is no wrong way to create art in this group: responses can look like scribbles, clay sculpture, a written poem, a dance and cut out images, for example.

Traditional group therapy generally focuses on group discussion and skill-building or coaching designed to target a specific subject. While art therapy groups offer a similar community support network, discussion is not the main focus of this group. Participants are asked to work independently and focus on introspection and are then welcome to share their reflections with the group.

This group supplements, but does not replace individual therapeutic support. There may be themes that come up in the group setting that you require more support around. I am not able to diagnose, treat, or offer clinical support within this group. Please seek individual therapeutic support when needed.

Past participants have said:

" Elspeth fosters a safe space for people to express themselves with no judgement, pressure, or expectations. The structure of each program is clear and the instructions are easy to follow for everyone regardless of artistic levels ... You might be hesitant about the idea of group therapy, but it was the best part. Seeing other people's interpretation of prompts versus your own is refreshing and enlightening "

View all reviews/feedback here.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

402 W Pender St, 402 West Pender Street, Vancouver, Canada