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Emotional Expression
Explore feelings and experiences through conversation, images, and creative processes.
MEET YOUR STUDENT THERAPIST
Hi, I'm Sylvia.
Supervised Student Therapist
There are more ways to express yourself than words alone.
I offer individual therapy that makes room for conversation, creativity, and reflection. Sometimes it is easier to explore an experience through colour, shape, or an image than to find the right words.
As a visual artist and Ontario Certified Teacher with more than 20 years of arts education and community experience, I bring curiosity and a respect for each person’s unique way of expressing themselves.
You do not need to know how to draw or consider yourself creative to begin. We can explore what feels comfortable and meaningful for you.
Request Affordable Therapy →In-person in Markham & virtual across Ontario · Under clinical supervision
A space for curiosity, expression, and connection.
Creative Expression ✦ Emotional Awareness ✦ Self-Discovery ✦ Identity ✦ Art-Based Approaches ✦ In-Person & Virtual
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
Sometimes words don't tell the whole story.
Therapy can create room to explore what matters to you, in ways that feel approachable and authentic.
✓ You have feelings that are difficult to put into words.
✓ You are curious about exploring your experiences in a different way.
✓ You want a supportive space to understand yourself and your emotions.
✓ You find that talking alone does not always capture what you mean.
✓ You are navigating questions about identity, change, or belonging.
✓ You would like to try creative expression without pressure to make something perfect.
AREAS WE CAN EXPLORE
What we can explore together.
Your goals and preferences guide the work. Creative approaches are an option, not a requirement.
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Identity & Self-Discovery
Reflect on who you are, what matters to you, and the stories you carry.
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Life Transitions
Make space for change, uncertainty, and new chapters.
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Self-Awareness
Notice patterns, responses, and sources of personal meaning.
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Creative Exploration
Try art-based activities without expectations about artistic ability.
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Connection & Well-Being
Explore relationships, belonging, and ways of caring for yourself.
ART-BASED THERAPEUTIC WORK
You don't have to be an artist to use art in therapy.
Art-making can offer another way to notice emotions, explore experiences, and reflect on what is important to you. A session might involve drawing, colour, or other creative materials, or it might simply involve talking. We can decide together what fits.
The focus is not on producing a beautiful piece of art. It is on the meaning and experience of the process, at your own pace.
Explore Affordable Therapy →HOW I WORK
Creative, collaborative, and person-centred.
We can use art-based activities alongside conversation, depending on your needs and comfort.
Art-Based Exploration
Optional creative activities that support reflection and expression.
Conversation & Reflection
A collaborative space to share experiences and explore their meaning.
Creative Self-Discovery
Using images and personal symbolism as prompts for curiosity.
Individualized Pacing
Choosing together when to talk, create, pause, or try something different.
MY APPROACH TO THERAPY
Your experience matters more than the finished artwork.
There is no right or wrong way to express yourself. My hope is to offer space for curiosity, reflection, and your own understanding of what emerges.
GETTING TO KNOW SYLVIA
A creative background, a developing clinical practice.
Before beginning my training in art psychotherapy, I spent more than two decades working in visual arts, education, and community settings. My work has included creative workshops and projects in schools, hospitals, and community spaces.
Those experiences deepened my interest in the relationship between creative expression, identity, and emotional well-being. I am now completing my clinical placement as a student therapist at Théla, with ongoing professional supervision.
BACKGROUND & TRAINING
Art, education, and psychotherapy training.
Sylvia is completing an Art Psychotherapy Diploma at the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CiiAT), with studies spanning 2025–2027.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto, and is an Ontario Certified Teacher.
She has extensive experience leading visual arts workshops and community initiatives. At Théla, she offers individual sessions as a supervised student therapist.
THÉLA AFFORDABLE THERAPY PROGRAM
Therapy should feel more accessible.
Sylvia participates in Théla’s supervised student therapy program. The complimentary and $20 program rates apply to eligible individual sessions, both in person and virtually, subject to availability and clinical suitability.
GETTING STARTED
Complimentary Individual Therapy
Free
Up to 12 individual sessions · In-person or virtual
Eligible clients may receive up to 12 complimentary sessions with a supervised student therapist, subject to screening, availability, and clinical suitability.
Request Affordable Therapy →CONTINUED SUPPORT
Low-Cost Individual Therapy
$20
Per session · In-person or virtual
Following the complimentary sessions, continued therapy may be available at $20 per session, subject to placement availability and ongoing clinical suitability.
Learn About the Program →In-person appointments in Markham and virtual appointments across Ontario are subject to scheduling availability.
COMMON QUESTIONS
A few things you might be wondering.
What does it mean to work with a student therapist?
Sylvia is completing a clinical placement under professional supervision. Supervision provides guidance and oversight as part of her training and client care.
Do I need to be good at art?
No. No artistic experience is required. The process is about exploration, not artistic performance.
Will we have to make art in every session?
No. Art-based activities are optional and can be combined with conversation according to your comfort and goals.
Does Sylvia offer in-person appointments?
Yes. Sylvia offers in-person sessions in Markham and virtual sessions across Ontario. Please inquire about scheduling and in-person arrangements.
How does the Affordable Therapy Program work?
For eligible individual therapy, Théla offers up to 12 complimentary sessions, followed by $20 per session when continued care is available. Screening and availability requirements apply.
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
You can begin exactly where you are.
Whether you feel drawn to art-making, conversation, or a combination of both, we can begin by exploring what feels right for you.
Request Affordable Therapy With Sylvia →Supervised student therapy · In-person in Markham & virtual across Ontario
This service does not provide crisis or emergency intervention. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency department. For suicide crisis support in Canada, call or text 9-8-8.
