Let’s Art About It – Art Therapy for Seniors (Session with Janice LeBlanc)

Let’s Art About It – Art Therapy for Seniors is a group therapy program that utilizes art-making to help seniors (55+) combat mental and emotional challenges as a result of the pandemic.

Sign up for these free virtual sessions. Led by a Registered Canadian Art Therapist, participants will express, explore, and understand their emotions through a variety of art exercises and mediums.

Session Lead: Janice LeBlanc

Janice LeBlanc is a Registered Art Therapist, Registered Psychotherapist, Certified Trauma Specialist, and EMDR Therapist. She has over 20 years of clinical experience working with those who have experienced childhood trauma and abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and domestic violence, as well as individuals who experience mental health challenges such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. She has extensive experience working with individuals with Special Needs such as ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Janice has specialized training in Art Therapy, EMDR Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy and is a national speaker on self-care for professionals, anxiety in children and youth, and coping with chronic illness. She works with all walks of life including children, youth, adults, and seniors, and is also a retired Secondary School Educator.

Suggested Art Supplies:

Most of all supplies should be available from the dollar store or Wal-Mart at an inexpensive cost.

Basic Art Kit:

• Pencil
• Eraser
• Pencil crayons
• Markers- fine point or wide point or both
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Paperwhite or coloured or patterned – any thickness but if using paint, a heavier paper would be good
• Sketchbook (8 1/2 x 11 or 11 x 14- whatever is comfortable to you) -if you would like to keep all your work together. Otherwise, single sheets of paper will work

More advanced art kit:

Supplies you may wish to have on hand but are not absolutely necessary:

• Watercolour paints with a few brushes of different sizes
• Acrylic paints and a few brushes in different sizes
• Boards that will hold acrylic paint (any size)
• Old magazines or newspapers or images you find interesting
• Fabric scraps, yarn string, etc

For more information email [email protected] or call 905-947-9054.

About Let's Art About It – Art Therapy for Seniors

Let’s Art About It – Art Therapy for Seniors is a group therapy program that utilizes art-making to help seniors combat mental and emotional challenges as a result of COVID-19. The creative process can foster self-esteem and self-awareness, promote insight, and support cognitive functions, among other benefits for wellbeing. Join the Markham Arts Council for small group sessions on Coping with Change and Finding Calm during Chaos!

These free sessions will be offered virtually over the course of the year. Led by a Registered Art Therapist, participants will express, explore, and understand their emotions through a variety of art mediums.