All Categories - Liz McCurdy Therapeutic Art

Grief & Loss

1/31/2023

Layers of emotion exist within us when we experience grief & loss. When my grandmother died I was feeling a lot of different things. I lived with her contributing a lot to her daily care during her final years and we became very close. When she passed I wanted to take care of my mental health and talking to a therapist seemed like the right thing to do...unfortunately, it ended up not being the right fit for me. It wasn't until a few years later that I learned about Therapeutic Art and through my training learned about the value it offers to individuals experiencing loss. This would have been exactly what I was looking for when my grandmother passed. I needed to express and explore I was feeling.
The image above is of a piece I did when I needed to release feelings of grief in response to a community tragedy, the experience helped me move through what I was feeling. Recently I was doing some creative work with someone who lost her mother a few months earlier. After working together she shared that she was able to release some of what she was feeling and holding inside. This is the same thing another client shared after we did an expressive activity together, she said, "it felt like releasing my grief and that some of the pain had melted away."
Grief and loss show up for different reasons; maybe you have moved away from a community you love, left a job unexpectedly, your child moved out of the house, or the passing of a loved one. Creative Work could be of great benefit to your healing, especially if you don't have words to express what you are feeling. If this sounds like you reach out to book a discovery call to see if a private session is right for you.

Mark the Sounds

1/20/2023

I have done this exercise a few times and really enjoy it. I use it as a way to relax and feel grounded. I find it calming and fulfilling. As you can see it isn't about the beauty of it, the value is in the process.
This is how it works. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds around you. With your eyes closed let you pen move across the page in response to what you hear. When you are ready, open your eyes and image each sound as a colour. Use markers, crayons, coloured pencils, or watercolours and add these colours. What do you notice?
I hope you give it a try.

Vision Board for 2023

12/16/2022

2022 is coming to a close and it is a good time to prepare for 2023! Vision boards are a great way to get focused on what you want to see happen in your year. Whether you are an entrepreneur who wants to stay clear on the direction of your business or someone who wants to make the most out of the year ahead, this is a tool that is fun to create and can make amazing things happen. Use your vision board to manifest an amazing and productive year. There are a lot of videos and tools out there to give ideas on how to create yours. You can also join a group of people all working on their vision boards together in a room with exciting and motivating energy.
Make 2023 a Fantastic Year!
(Upcoming Vision Board workshops)
PS - the image above is to help get inspired and energized.

Team Building with Art

11/19/2022

Strengthening connections on a team can increase emotional wellbeing and staff retention. The last few years have taken their tole on many of us and the impact is being see in staff teams across the province. Burn out, high turn over in staff, and reduced productivity.
Art has an amazing way of bringing people together. I work with teams using art as an engaging and fun tool to care for oneself as well as build connections and have fun with coworkers. One of my favourate activities is to make stamps then use those stamps in small groups to complete a challenge. Reach out to learn more.

Attempt One and two

11/4/2022

This is me up in a tree creating a web out of scraps of fabric. It is an assignment for an Eco-Therapy course I am taking. I needed to make a web using 1 or more trees. My first attempt in another tree started off well and quickly became an unpleasant experience. I took it apart and walking away I saw this tree. I decided to trust the process and give it another try. I had a completely different experience creating a web in this tree. I was engaged in the process and found meaning in the final piece. A good reminder that the therapeutic process may not connect the first time around. Maybe the timing is off or you don't have the right materials. Either way, don't be too quick to give up on the process if it doesn't come the first time around.

when words are not enough

10/22/2022

There is a magnet on my car with my business info and says, "When Words Are Not Enough". The other day I heard someone read these words and say, "That's weird." At first I thought, 'maybe it is weird', and then I thought, 'no, it isn't weird at all'.
We have all experienced moments when you feel something is wrong and you can't quite put your finger on it. Can you remember one of these moments? This is a moment 'when words are not enough'. The beauty of art is that it can tap into these moments without any need for words or explanation. Art can help us better understand what is happening and give an opportunity to respond to what is bothering us. This is one of the reasons why I love the work that I do.

Let it out

10/14/2022

I recently returned home from visiting family who we hadn't seen in over 4 years. We travelled by plane and if you follow me on Instagram you will know that our trip there did not go well. Unfortunately, our trip home didn't go as planned either and as you can imagine I was in emotion overload...I needed to let it out! I got some thick crayons and started to scribble with both hands. I just let loose and It Felt Good!
We had a wonderful time with family and I wanted this to be highlighted after letting go. The first shape I thought of to represent this was a heart - I got out my paints and added a really big one.

Therapeutic Art vs Art Therapy

9/26/2022

When I tell people I am a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner most immediately think I am an Art Therapist and while both roles have similarities, they are not the same. I loosely compare the difference to Nurse Practitioners vs Family Doctors. A nurse practitioner is trained to observe what is happening in the moment, advocate for patients, and provide wound care. A family doctor works with the patient on treatment plans and can perform medical procedures.
As a therapeutic arts practitioner I work with individuals by exploring what is happening for them in the moment with the goal of gaining clarity and feeling nurtured by the end of each session. If an individual is in crisis, navigating trauma, or needs to dig deeper into past events in order to move forward then Art Therapy or other services would be a better fit.
Here are a few examples of experiences that could benefit from therapeutic art - lack of motivation, stress or anxiety, grief & loss, lack of confidence, burn out, or general feelings of being overwhelmed. When an individual’s needs move outside my scope of practice, I work with them to find services that are a better fit for their needs.
Reach out if you have any questions or check out my website to learn more.

First Day of School Jitters

9/5/2022

Tomorrow is the first day of school and with that comes a lot of feelings including; excitement, relief, anxiety, or even fear. Here is a short exercise (for students of any age) to help settle into these first few days of school. Use any materials you have on hand.
In the middle of a piece of paper, have them draw the first shape that comes to mind when they hear the word strength. Then they can write a word (inside the shape) that describes one of their wonderful qualities. Then colour in the shape with a colour that brings them joy. Around the shape use shapes lines and colour to push all of the touch feelings away from the shape. Done. You can pull this out anytime these tough feelings start to surface. It is a reminder of their strength within and they can do this.

Beach Days with the kids

8/26/2022

While beach days with the kids are some of the best days of summer it can be stressful getting there…am I right?! Getting everyone dressed, putting on the sunscreen, prep some snacks, don’t forget any of the beach toys (kids never take just one, lol), etc. then you get there and everyone is content playing in the sand but your body energy is still running in high speed!!!
Try this…sit down and smooth out a small bit of sand next to you. Then let your finger make lines in the sand, let it move wherever it wants. Feel the tension and high energy release. Now you are set and ready to fully enjoy that Beach Day!