Do you work with adults?
Yes, we facilitate offerings for adults. From art therapy, counselling and life coaching to workshops, courses, and retreats, we have offerings for every season of adult life.
Do you work with youth and children?
Yes, we provide art therapy and counselling sessions for youth and children. At The Lamp Post Studio, we provide informed and meaningful opportunities for youth and children to explore their inner and outer worlds in a safe, nurturing and friendly environment.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously permit others to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
— Marianne Williamson
What is the difference between ‘life coaching’ and ‘counselling‘?
Life Coaching is goals-oriented and focuses specifically on asking the individual valuable questions about their life, what they want to achieve and why it is important to them. Life coaching often involves ‘action plans’ which describe ‘how’, ‘what with’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ the individual will take steps towards their goal. Life coaching is action-oriented and contributes a high level of accountability.
Counselling explores both the inner and outer experiences of the individual/dou or group. Counselling focuses on wellbeing and wholeness through explorations of experience, meaning-making, emotions, needs and consequences. Exploring how lives are influenced and impacted by thinking, culture, relationships and community is key to holistic counselling, which works to solve problems and support people through difficult times such as; relationship issues, addictions, grief and loss, navigating change and much more.
“It is difficult to convey in words the depth and power of the expressive arts process, really you must taste it to understand it.”
— Natalie Rogers PhD
What is Art Therapy?
Art Therapy is the process by which emotions, experiences and understandings are expressed through the arts. Creative expressions can then be translated into spoken language, giving words to deep and previously inexpressible experiences and insights, this leads to healing and transformation.
What Happens in an Art Therapy Session?
At the beginning of the session, the practitioner will gently ask you how you are. You will then be given the opportunity to make some art. The practitioner will offer you a choice of materials to use, as well as couple of specific art-making prompts to choose from (you do not need any art-making skills or experience).
During the art-making the practioner will hold the space for you while you create. They will then spend time with you exploring your artwork and what it means for you. The practitioner will take notes and reflect back to you important words and discoveries you have expressed about your art-making and your life. As a result of this process, you will gain new insights, experience a fresh perspective and grow in understanding about yourself and your situation. Art therapy works to empower you to move forward with insight wisdom and confidence.
Below is a video clip by the College for Clinical and Educational Art Therapy (CECAT) showing snippets of the art therapy process. Our Practitioners Heidi Franklin & Nettie Shue have both studied Art Therapy through CECAT.