Follow us on Instagram!
Have a look at our Pinterest page!
Like us on Facebook!

History and Mission

In response to a series of conversations with Canadian mental health practitioners, this chapter emerged with the intention of helping advocate, connect and create professional development and research opportunities for members that employ the intentional use of art, dance/movement, drama, photography, music, play, sand tray, and/or creative writing in their practice.

With the encouragement of Wayne Clifford, Past-President of the Quebec Counselling Association (QCA) and Quebec Anglophone Director to the CCPA, Past-CAC President Nisha Sajnani submitted a proposal and set of bylaws to the board of the then Canadian Counselling Association to establish the formerly named Creative Arts in Counselling chapter in May 2003. The proposal was accepted with an interim executive board with the following members: President: Nisha Sajnani, Secretary/Treasurer: Priya Senroy, Communications: Angela Colangelo. This interim chapter board was unanimously voted in for a two-year mandate at our first AGM in May 2004. We appointed the following provincial representatives: Kristin Boettger (Alberta), Csilla Przibislawsky (Manitoba), Tony DiGiacomo (Ontario), Leigh Bulmer (Quebec), Mark Kelly (Yukon), Judy Weiser (BC), Cindy Newton (Saskatchewan).

The presently Creative Arts in Counselling and Psychotherapy (CACP) Chapter provides a tangible forum through which mental health practitioners who employ the use of the arts in/as therapy can engage in open dialogue on issues pertaining to training, research, and practice. In 2018, our chapter members voted to change our name to better reflect and include clinicians, mental health practitioners and allied professionals beyond the counselling profession.

Creative arts therapists and expressive arts therapists are often registered counsellors and psychotherapists who use these modalities in their treatment receive training from an accredited academic institution, with specialization in one or more creative arts modality in combination with intense clinical training related to emotional and cognitive human development and the therapeutic process.

This chapter also serves as a vehicle for lobbying appropriate university departments and facilities, governments and agencies to meet their goal of preparing competent counsellors and psychotherapists by providing education on the variance between the creative arts modalities in counselling and therapy.


Lorelei Dietz

Co-President
Lorelei Dietz

Lorelei Dietz (MA, RCT-C, MTA) is a registered counseling therapist (candidate) and certified music therapist working and residing in K’jipuktuk/Halifax. She works clinically in community mental health settings with adolescents and adults, as well as in private practice. Lorelei completed her Masters in Creative Arts Therapies (Music Therapy) at Concordia University, researching the importance of therapeutic relationships in neuroscience-informed approaches to music therapy practice (Spectrum, 2022). She has experience working with survivors of traumatic and acquired brain injuries, persons living with dementia, and neurodiverse children. Lorelei served as CACP Chapter President from 2021-2023 and was recently voted in as Co-President alongside Rachel Norris (2023-2025).

Rachel Norris

Co-President
Rachel Norris

Rachel Norris (MA, MTA, MT-BC) is a board-certified Music Therapist in the Tiohtiá:ke /Montreal area. Rachel obtained her bachelor’s in clarinet performance from McGill University in 2013. she obtained her music therapy certification in 2020. After graduating from the Concordia Graduate Diploma program in music therapy, Rachel went on to complete her Master’s in music therapy from Concordia University in June 2021. Her thesis, published on Spectrum in 2021, explored the theoretical foundations of attachment and the use of music therapy with families. Rachel is a Level 1 certified Play therapist and is also a certified Music Together instructor teaching group music classes for families. Rachel currently works as a music therapist in a school for children with disabilities. Rachel served as CACP Chapter Special Projects Coordinator from 2021-2023 and was recently voted in as Co-President alongside Lorelei Dietz (2023-2025). 

Rowena Tam

Past-President
Rowena Tam

Rowena Tam (she/her) is a drama therapist, artist, researcher, Canadian Certified Counsellor and guest living and working in Tiohtiá:ke/Mooniyaang/Montreal, on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory. Rowena has clinical experience working in public and private practice with frontline workers at Indigenous-serving organizations, immigrant and refugee youth, women in prison, as well as neurotypical and neurodiverse children and adults. Rowena’s doctoral research focuses on interweaving decolonizing methodologies in drama therapy and the use of drama therapeutic interventions to honour the dignity and stories of Black, Indigenous and racialized women involved with the criminal in/justice system. Rowena served as Chapter President from 2019-2021 and remains on the Board as Past-President

Audrey-Anne Frenette

Treasurer
Audrey-Anne Frenette

Audrey-Anne Frenette (she/her) is an art-therapist (M.A) and the owner of a jewelry company. She believes that every individual is creative and has the capacity to adapt. Her goal as an art therapist is to create a safe and caring space that promotes creativity, well-being, expression and self-knowledge. She accompanies individuals experiencing various emotional and relational difficulties, among others related to self-esteem, grief and loss, life transitions, self-care, trauma, stress and anxiety. She also has experience accompanying and supporting children and adolescents who have a loved one living with a mental health issue. She works from a client-centered, emotions-focused, trauma informed and strengths based approach that integrates mindfulness practices as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions. Audrey-Anne is from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and after 10 years living on the island of Tiohtiá:ke also known as the island of Montreal, she moved to Gatineau. Audrey-Anne acknowledges and is sensitive to her role as a settler currently residing on the traditional territories of First Nations communities.

Yasmin Kawar

Secretary
Yasmin Kawar

Yasmin Kawar, MTA, RCT-C, is a Jordanian-Canadian music therapist and counselling therapist working in the K’jipuktuk (Halifax) area. Yasmin specializes in working with clients in addictions recovery, as well as persons impacted by trauma & abuse, addiction, and the criminal justice system. Her approach is anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, intersectional, and person-centered. Yasmin works to meet clients where they are in their life journey to collaboratively explore challenges, develop insights & resources, and creatively mobilize chaos into positive empowered change. Yasmin also serves as Vice President for the executive board of the Atlantic Association of Music Therapy.

Vacant

Communications Director

Irish Dhinsda (appointed)

Communications Specialist

Irish Dhindsa (she/her), Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP Candidate, residing in the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credits, is a psychotherapist in training who supports and values the inimitable role art plays in a person’s ability to self-express, build connections, and in living life abundantly. Irish is also presently completing her Therapeutic Arts Practitioner Certificate from the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy. Irish is born in India, where the cultures are enriched in artistic expression. Her cultural roots and love for art are her motivation to apply art-based interventions to her work as a therapist as she grows into her career. Alongside her studies, Irish works with bereaved individuals in a helping capacity by supporting them in shaping a path for their healing journey. 

Anqi Sun

Student Representative

Anqi Sun (she/her) is a music therapy MA candidate from Concordia University, singer-songwriter, content creator, and guest residing in Tiohtiá:ke/Mooniyaang/Montreal, on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka territory.Born and raised in China and has been calling Canada her home for the last decade, Anqi thrives to help connect people with each other and themselves through music. She has clinical experience in providing music therapy to a variety of populations such as neurodivergent adults and young children, elderly adults, and adults with mental health struggles. As a singer-songwriter, Anqi writes and sings about human emotions. She has toured in various cities in both China and Canada and her music has been featured on Fairchild tv and radio, CBC Radio, and CJLO. She also hosts the first Mandarin radio shows–Cha Party (华语茶话会) & Under the Sun (太阳底下)– at Concordia University’s CJLO 1690AM.

 

Vacant

Board Liason


Send a message to our CACP Chapter president!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Constitution and Bylaws

The Chapter’s bylaws are a set of rules that control the actions of its members and govern the internal management of the Chapter.


Brochure

The CAC Chapter Brochure contains information regarding the Chapter. To order printed copies, please contact the National Office.



Professional Development Activities

For current updates on professional development activities in the creative arts therapy field, please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages.




Archives

Coming soon!