For many people, winter can be a rough time of the year. The weather is cold, the daylight hours are short, and we often find ourselves cooped up indoors.
The winter months can bring feelings of isolation/loneliness, low mood, post-holiday stress/anxiety, and decreased motivation. This is an 8-week virtual art therapy group for adults (18+) who are seeking support this winter.
Co-facilitators Rehaana Manek MA, DTATI, RP (Qualifying) and Amy Tschupruk BA, DTATI, RP (Qualifying) are trained to provide psychotherapy services through a blend of verbal and creative expression. While this group will involve making art, you do not need any art experience to participate–it’s more about channeling a different way to let your thoughts, feelings, and experiences out.
Participants may join from anywhere in Canada except for Québec due to provincial regulation for psychotherapy services.
While this group was not created for the specific purpose of supporting those diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), those with a SAD diagnosis may find this group beneficial
Therapeutic Modalities & Goals:
Art Therapy: Using visual expression to support insight, emotional processing, and self-reflection.
Emotion-Focused Approaches: Working with emotions as they arise to build clarity and resilience.
Mindfulness Practices: Incorporating grounding and awareness exercises to help regulate mood and stress.
Narrative Approaches: Exploring and reshaping the stories we hold about winter and ourselves.
Strengths-Based Practice: Focusing on participants’ existing skills, resources, and inner strengths.
Relational/Group-Based Approaches: Fostering connection and a sense of community through shared experience.
Settling in
Each session begins with a brief check-in and a grounding activity to help everyone settle into the space. This time can be used to voice any feelings, challenges, or reflections that have surfaced between sessions.
Creating and connecting
We’ll introduce a theme related to navigating the winter months, followed by an art-making prompt that you can explore using your preferred art materials. You don’t need any special supplies; simple items like markers, paper, or recycled materials work well, and we can offer suggestions if you’d like ideas or want to purchase a few basics. After the creative time, we’ll come together to reflect on the process, share insights, or simply listen. Speaking is always at your comfort level. Many people find that hearing others’ experiences can be just as meaningful as sharing.
Carrying it forward
We’ll wrap up each session with space to integrate what came up and consider how it connects to your week. You’ll also receive a written guide of optional materials or reflections that you can explore between sessions to support and deepen your experience. Throughout the group, we aim for a tone that is supportive, collaborative, and paced gently to help you feel grounded during the winter season.
To register, please click the button below and complete the brief registration form. Everyone who registers will be contacted in early January for a short consultation. This conversation helps us learn a bit about what you’re hoping to get from the group, make sure it’s a good fit for your needs, and answer any questions you might have before we begin.
Rate: Sliding scale $300-$400
($37.50-$50.00 per session)
Depending on your insurance plan, the group may be partially or fully covered. We encourage you to check with your provider to confirm what’s included under your mental health benefits.
If you’re interested in the group but not available for the current time slot, we still encourage you to fill out the form. There’s a place to indicate your availability, and if there’s enough interest, we may open a second group.
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Rehaana (she/they) is an Art Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
How people move through their worlds has always fascinated Rehaana. As a trained Anthropologist they spent much of their life trying to understand culture and systems and how we move through them as individuals and part of communities. Rehaana is also an illustrator and loves to create, both personally and professionally.
They have spent many years in many places as a student, at the University of Toronto, at York University, at SOAS and most recently at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute.
As a student of people and where they come from with a deeply rooted sense of empathy, Art Therapy is an amazing way to combine their interests but also offer a source of support, kindness and hopefulness. They hope that they can offer a joyous and hopeful place to breathe, feel and grow.Rehaana is currently working in virtual private practice. Rehaana also teaches and works at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, and is on the Canadian Art Therapy Association board of directors as the Anti-Oppressive Practice director.
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Amy Tschupruk (she/her) is an Art Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).
Amy grew up in Northern Ontario (Treaty 9 Territory), where she developed a deep appreciation for the rugged landscapes and the grounding experience of being immersed in nature. Exploring the outdoors and making art has helped cultivate her sense of curiosity, imagination, and inquisitive nature.
Amy’s educational background is a mix of history studies and creative arts (both traditional and digital). In 2022, she enrolled in the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI), motivated by a desire to blend her passion for creativity with a deeper connection to personal and collective well-being.She is a member of Climate Psychology Alliance North America, a network of mental health professionals working to collaborate and share resources on mental health work in the context of the climate crisis.
Amy is passionate about facilitating personal exploration and believes that creative expression can help us learn about ourselves in unique ways.
Amy currently works in-person at Toronto Art Therapy Space, and has her own virtual practice. She is also working as a Teaching Assistant at Toronto Art Therapy Institute.