ANDREA, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) DTATI Candidate
1. What led you to become a therapist, and what keeps you engaged in this work today?
I didn’t grow up in an environment where mental health was openly discussed, and there was stigma around seeking therapy. Years later, during a dark period of loneliness, I sought therapy myself and was introduced to art therapy. As I moved through service and non-profit work, art was a way for me to pause and reflect. Through community arts, reconnecting with my Philippine heritage, and volunteering in social services, I was reminded of how healing it is to create spaces where people can express themselves without judgment. Seeing others thrive and create positive social change continues to motivate and ground my work today.
2.How would you describe your therapeutic style, and what is it like to work with you?
I bring my own lived experience, learning, and curiosity into my work, meeting clients where they are. I focus on client’s strengths and draw from approaches like narrative therapy, mindfulness, and compassionate inquiry. In sessions I usually start with a check-in, then we spend time art making in a structured or unstructured way, always tailored to client needs and goals. I invite clients to experiment and trust the process. Then I hold space for discussing what comes up, at your own pace. I don’t position myself as the expert on your life. Instead we work collaboratively while I support you on your journey.
3. What kinds of concerns or life challenges do you most enjoy and feel most skilled in supporting?
I’m passionate about supporting people to reconnect with themselves, work through emotions held in the body, and live in ways that feel more true to who they are. Art can help express experiences that are hard to put into words, like trauma and grief. As a first-generation immigrant, I understand challenges around intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, family expectations, and professional burnout. I support clients dealing with everyday stress, anxiety, depression, and loss, using sensory-based art practices to help calm and regulate the nervous system.
4. Who tends to be a good fit for your approach to therapy?
No art experience is needed to try art therapy! I believe everyone is an artist, and that the process matters more than the final result. Using shapes, colours, and images can help bring out buried thoughts and feelings. I aim to create a supportive space for people who have been marginalized because of their identities or life experiences. I have worked with children, youth, older adults, and people from BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. My approach may be a good fit if you feel “stuck”, overwhelmed, or isolated. We can explore these experiences together through art and present-moment awareness.
5. What values guide your work as a therapist and the relationships you build with clients?
In our current world we live with harmful colonial ideas that tell us we have to be alone, that something is wrong with us, or that love and acceptance are limited. I believe healing doesn’t happen in isolation, we heal through connection. In my work, I focus on joy, play, and being your real self. I care about advocacy both inside and outside of the therapy space. I believe therapy works best when it’s built on trust, understanding, and courage. We work together to shape the art therapy space, and your feedback always matters. You have control over how you use art materials, what you share about your artwork, and how you move through the process.