What to expect in a session
At the initial assessment
- Usually a phone call or zoom chat, lasting about 15 - 20 minutes
- If this is a self-referral, you will be asked for demographic (name, address, next of kin, etc.).
Payment arrangements will also be made.
- Current policies will be explained, which can be found here.
- You will be asked to read and sign confidentiality and release forms, which can be sent back by email or on your first visit. Without written or, in some cases, verbal consent to confidentiality and image release, art therapy sessions cannot go ahead.
- As your therapist, I will talk to you about what art therapy is, art therapy benefits, therapist and client responsibilities, professional boundaries, goal setting and present issues in the intake. Your responses will help me to write a customized treatment plan for you.
At an online session
- To participate in online sessions, you must have an operating system that can run the Zoom app and have a camera or cell phone / tablet with camera to take pictures of your artwork.
- A reminder of your online session will be sent to your preferred email or text number between 24 to 48 hours in advance of your appointment. If you cannot keep this appointment, please contact me to avoid being charged session fees.
- This reminder will contain a unique zoom link to be used at the time of the session. Please do not share this link.
- You may have to wait in the waiting area for your session to begin. Please be patient!
- If technology fails and you cannot make it online, please contact me and let me know what's going on. Sessions will be cancelled if you do not show up after 15 minutes into the session start time. If technology fails on my end, I will attempt to call you and finish the session by phone.
- The session itself consists of 4 parts: checking in / grounding, art making, therapeutic discussion about your process and session closing. Art making may be spontaneous, or directive based.
- We can work with the art materials you have, or I can send you a basic art kit at a small additional cost.
- At the end of every session, you decide whether to email the picture(s) of your artwork (safeharbourstudio@protonmail.com), send them through zoom chat or give me permission to screen capture your work. You may also decide not to take pictures. These images will be immediately uploaded and stored at a secure electronic location.
- All digital client documentation (images and client notes) is confidential and kept in a secured, encrypted location for 7 years after your last session.
- Please read our communication and privacy policy for detailed information on how your privacy is protected :)
At an office session
- Office sessions take place by appointment only. We may not be there if you show up with no appointment scheduled.
- A reminder of your office session will be sent to your preferred email or text between 24 to 48 hours in advance of your appointment. If you cannot keep this appointment, please contact us to avoid being charged session fees.
- In accordance with public health policy, we can only see one person per session. If you arrive early and the door is closed, please be patient and wait outside until we open the door!
- Please wear a mask to your session and follow social distancing protocol. Because some of our families are vulnerable, we reserve the right to cancel the session if we feel that these rules are not being followed.
- Disinfection of commonly touched areas will occur first thing in the morning, between client sessions and when closing.
- You will receive your own personalized art kit for creating art at these sessions. Requests for specific materials can be made at one session and arranged for the next session. You're also welcome to bring your own materials.
- The session itself consists of 4 parts: checking in / grounding, art making, therapeutic discussion about your process and session closing. Art making may be spontaneous, or directive based.
- At the end of every session, and with your permission, we will take pictures of your artwork. These pictures are immediately uploaded and stored in a secure electronic location. You can decide whether to take your physical artwork home. Because of space considerations, any physical artwork which has not been claimed within 6 months will be destroyed.
- All digital client documentation (images and client notes) is confidential and kept in a secured, encrypted location for 7 years after your last session.
- Please read our communication and privacy policy for detailed information on how your privacy is protected :)
Phone / Email Session
- As your therapist, I will send a directive or stress reducing technique to your preferred email a week before your session. You will have a week to respond to this directive, or to practice this technique.
- I will call at your preferred time to discuss your response. A typical session length is between 10 and 15 minutes.
- To avoid being charged for a missed session, please let me know a minimum of 24 hours in advance if you will be away from your phone for your session time.
- This practice reserves the right to charge in advance for future sessions if you miss several phone calls in a row.