Expressive Art Therapy for Moms - Leduc, AB & Virtually Across Canada
Art As Therapy for Moms
Motherhood is hard. Making art helps.
A research-backed way to feel like yourself again.
Yes, this is eligible for benefit coverage, too!
Not in AB, SK OR ON, Canada? Let’s get you where you need to be!
What is it?
Do you ever hear a song on the radio and transport to another place and time? Have the urge for a spontaneous dance party? Lose time in painting, scrapbooking, or journalling? Had the urge to doodle after a long day? Sing in the shower? Hum while you fold your laundry? These are all forms of expression. Creative expression. We used to express ourselves all the time as kids. Somewhere along the way, we lost our drive to really be silly, expressive, and creative. Some people still have it. For others, it's an untapped resource. Expressive art therapy is a kind of healing that happens through creative writing, poetry, intentional music listening, body movement, visual art, and intentional creativity time. It is more than doodles on a page or paint on a paper. It is listening, seeing, and witnessing in someone's creative process. It is more powerful than actual words.
Why it works
According to the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association® (IEATA®), the expressive arts combine the visual arts, movement, drama, music, writing, and other creative processes to foster deep personal growth.
Psychology Today describes the process this way: art comes from a deep emotional place inside you, while creative endeavors enable you to undergo a profound process of self-discovery. Creativity becomes the pathway to the expression of inner feelings. In other words, your creative process becomes your road to emotional health.
Natalie Rogers, who built the entire person-centered expressive arts model, described it like this: "It is a process of discovering ourselves through any art form that comes from an emotional depth. It is not creating a 'pretty' picture. It is not a dance ready for the stage. It is not a poem written and rewritten to perfection."
What to expect in a session
Making art automatically brings your emotional defenses down. It allows you to open up, open your mind, and put it all on the paper.
Kayla's process involves making art, mindfulness, and dialogue. She connects you to your breath and body in ways you have never done before. She focuses on your process, not the product. Your art will hold a message, an unknowing. Something new has been made and it holds power. Together you talk about what the art means to you, and the healing takes place.
The healing happens when you allow someone to see you, really see you. The art is the communication tool. When participating in expressive art therapy, you are allowing the creativity to speak for you. Art speaks of the dark places and the light.
When was the last time you expressed yourself in a real way, bearing witness from someone who held you up?
What expressive art therapy can do for you
→ Validation of your feelings, experiences, and story. You are the expert in your own life.
→ Being seen and heard in a powerful way.
→ Sitting with your feelings, beginning to know them, learning from them, getting them outside of your body and onto paper.
→ Increasing your sense of self love and self acceptance.
→ Moving past distractions and scattered thoughts.
→ Giving yourself permission to go into the deepest parts of yourself.
→ Accepting what you cannot control (aka. other people).
→ Improving your immune system, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
What we work on together
Inside the work, we figure out:
Why you feel sad, angry, overwhelmed, and ________ (insert your own feelings here)
Why you find yourself doing things that pass time but make you feel worse (the scroll, the binge, the snacks at 9pm)
What is missing so you can feel more energy, passion, joy, and fun
How to foster or improve relationships with the people closest to you
How to take time for yourself without feeling guilty or out of time
How to set boundaries, communicate expectations, and feel less rage when things feel out of control
How to stand firm in your parenting decisions when you receive unsolicited advice or comments from 1985
answering your questions
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add fees in here
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Reach out directly - by email or through the booking link on this page. We'll have a free 20-minute conversation to make sure I'm the right fit before you book anything.
Is virtual support effective?
Yes. Research consistently shows virtual support is as effective as in-person. It also means you can do this from your car in the driveway, your closet, the bathroom, the treadmill, a local park, or anywhere in the world.
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Sessions are paid through Jane via credit card or direct billing at the time of your appointment Jane. A receipt is provided after every session for insurance or tax purposes.
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It's not a matter of if I get it wrong - it's when. When that happens, I'll name it, take responsibility for the harm caused, and do my own learning without making that your job. You don't need to manage my feelings about my mistakes.
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Since the wellness industry can dance around everything without ever saying anything real - let me be direct: Black lives matter. Trans rights are human rights. Abortion is healthcare. Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated here - including but not limited to racism, xenophobia, sexism, fatphobia, antisemitism, and classism. If that's not a fit for you, that's okay. This practice is not the right place.
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Sick kiddo? Bad brain day? Life with kids is unpredictable and I get it. Last minute cancellations won't be charged a fee as long as we communicate - just shoot me a message when you know. If you routinely skip our sessions and leave me on read for three weeks, we'll probably need to have a chat. But honestly? In eight years of practice, that's never happened.
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A real conversation. I'll ask about what you're carrying, what you've already tried, and what you want to feel differently about. I'm direct - I won't spend the whole hour asking how that makes you feel. You don't need to come prepared. Just show up.
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Only if it's relevant - and sometimes it is. But we start with what's happening right now.
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Most people do at some point. There are tissues. It's fine.
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Yes. You don't have to be falling apart to deserve support. Many of my clients are functioning just fine on the outside - they're just exhausted and done with feeling this way.
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Your friend loves you and wants you to feel better immediately. I'm not trying to make you feel better immediately - I'm guiding you to move forward in a way that feels confident, calm, and sustainable.
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Many extended health plans cover Registered Social Worker services. For moms in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario - check your plan for RSW coverage and confirm with your provider before booking. Kayla direct bills to many major insurers via Telus eClaims, so you may not need to pay upfront at all. RSW services may also be claimable on your health spending account and as a medical expense on your Canadian income tax return - check with your accountant on that one.
Where to start
The Untangle Consulting Intensive
(available worldwide)
For going deep, fast | Coming Soon
Self-paced programs
Mom guilt resources, journals, and short courses. Start anytime. | Browse Programs →
1:1 Counselling
(AB, SK, ON - direct billing through Jane)
For ongoing support | Learn More →
Kayla Huszar is
a Registered Social Worker trained in somatic expressive art therapy, a mom of two, and host of the Chill Like a Mother podcast. Trained at the Prairie Institute of Expressive Arts Therapy (Levels One and Two). She works with mothers virtually across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.
As seen in: Maclean's Magazine | CBC's The Current