Blue Balloon means hope

Art can change the world of a person living with dementia and their care partners

There are many factors to consider when creating an art program for those living with dementia, and I offer training and consulting to support you and your staff to build a program that results in success for all.

The story about the blue balloon:

My education and experience:

Graduate studies

I earned my Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute in 2014. Through the clinical practicum portion of this education, I developed a true love for supporting those living with dementia through art.

I am not a registered psychotherapist, however, I do maintain my professional status and am insured as a member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association. Everything you see on this site is rooted in the arts and does not constitute or substitute psychotherapy.

adult learning and curriculum development

Through my work in dementia, I have been heavily involved in the course development, curriculum writing and teaching of graduate level system navigation online college courses.

I have also been facilitating many standardized and informal dementia education and training courses throughout my career, and spoken at many events on a wide variety of dementia, healthcare and arts-related topics.

Collaborative and Community Projects

One of the most fulfilling elements for me is developing opportunities for community collaboration and connection.

Through the past ten years, I have created many short-term collaborative art programs. Most recently, I’ve worked with the Alzheimer Society Chatham-Kent Adult Day Program and the Thames Art Gallery, and have also created intergenerational programs, pairing high school art students with people living with dementia, to co-create art projects for a local gallery exhibit.

Lived Experience

The biggest informer of my approach and my understanding of what it is like to live with dementia is my privilege to be a care partner for my mom, who is a person living with dementia.

My mom, Ann, was diagnosed with dementia in 2015, and I have been blessed to walk beside her throughout this experience.  Although there have been many tears, and much loss along the way, she has been an incredible teacher for me, and we continue to find joy and gratitude even in the later stages of her disease.

All of the above experience combined gives me a unique perspective that is informed by a broad spectrum of training and experience, both personally and professionally in the art and art therapy field, as well as the field of dementia.

Let’s work together to promote wellbeing through the power of creative connection.