MEET CAROL

Hello! I am Carol Ritchie, Art Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist (RP). I have enjoyed making art since I was a little girl, sitting at the dining table with my mother, drawing, painting, sculpting and writing stories about the pieces I created. As I grew older, I started to realize the therapeutic power of creating when words were not enough to express my emotions.

It was my childhood dream to be an art teacher. However, a strong interest in people, cultures and languages drew me to study French and then teach English as a Second Language to adults, around the world and here in Canada. While working as an English language teacher, I was part of a program that incorporated art therapy directives into the curriculum. I saw how much it helped my students learn English, build their confidence and enjoy themselves while doing it, which made me curious about art therapy and how it could help people in other ways. I was interested in hearing my students’ stories, learning about their cultures, families, work, interests, and experiences—what had formed them and how they processed their experiences in life. I truly loved my students and wished I could help them even more than I was able to. This led me to study art therapy.

I graduated from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute (TATI) in 2015, completed a Master of Arts in Theology (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy) at Wilfrid Laurier University in 2018, and passed the exam to become a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists in 2019. I have provided art therapy at a central Ontario cancer centre and hospital, doing individual and group art therapy with adult cancer outpatients, family members, palliative care patients, and geriatric unit patients. I also worked at a youth shelter and at a clinic that assists women who have experienced intimate partner abuse. I enjoy working with people of all ages. I have witnessed how art therapy can help people cope with life changes and challenges such as grief, loss, illness, injury, relationship and family issues, stress, anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, sexuality and life transitions.

My Therapeutic Approach

I follow a person-centred, trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to therapy. I believe that everyone has an innate sense of resiliency, and everyone has stories that need to be heard. Both art and words can help tell the stories. I am grounded in art psychotherapy, mindfulness, and psychoeducation. I help my clients find their resiliency and connect them with tools that will help them heal and grow and process memories and current feelings.

Credentials

DTATI (Graduate Art Therapy Diploma from TATI, Toronto Art Therapy Institute), 2015

M.A. in Theology: Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2018

Registered Psychotherapist (RP) designation, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), 2019