Tributes

“I came to Karen at a time when I was experiencing many difficult personal and professional transitions. Working with her allowed me to explore difficult emotions in a safe place, and stabilize my mental health. Karen’s approach is completely unique to me, through different mediums of art I was able to process anxieties, and traumas, and build skills to apply to my relationships that I will carry for the rest of my life. Karen is kind, compassionate, and a pleasure to speak with. It was interesting, challenging, and vulnerable work that has left me more in touch with myself and more resilient going forward.” Emily
Individual therapy
“Karen and I worked together for two years, meeting weekly.  I was dealing with mental and physical issues and not very optimistic for positive change.  Karen immediately fostered an atmosphere conducive to successful team work, which worked so well that one year into our efforts I was truly amazed at the positive changes.  Though I didn’t look forward to the end of us working together, I felt confident that I would continue to move forward in a positive manner because of Karen’s supportive expertise.”  Dan, Veteran
Individual Therapy

“Karen’s skill and style as a therapist is in my opinion unquestionably powerful.  Each session felt like three in one with the amount of emotional awareness I found, and with that awareness, I made a real change in my life.  I think moving in and out of creative play opened up emotional awareness that talk or body style therapies did not access for me.  She gave me choices about what to process and how to do it; I felt like I had real control to where our therapy went.  I left each time with a photo or physical object and a few have become keystones for my use again and again.  I highly recommended Karen if you think you have a flair for play and are willing to try new things. Believe me, you do not need to have any artistic ‘skill’!”  Minetta

 

 

Individual therapy

“I was lucky to have the opportunity to develop a life skills program with Karen, and learned so much from her over the course of a few months! Karen has an amazing ability to synthesize complex theories of change and communicate them in very creative ways to learners with different needs. Karen also has a deep wisdom about people and our relationships with one another. I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to work with her.”  Brandy Basisty MSW

Program Innovation

“I was a little scared at first, but Karen’s warm and welcoming nature dissipated my fears very quickly…..It was an amazing 6 months of Expressive Arts Therapy with Karen! Her skills, personality,  overall openness and understanding disposition helped me to move through the grief of multiple losses and to gain a renewed outlook on life with a hope as to my continued purpose in life.  I feel that this amount of ground that both Karen and I journeyed together on, in such a distinct amount of time, wouldn’t have happened any other way than through the Intermodal Approach, offered in her unique way.” Alicia

Individual therapy
“My experience with traditional therapy is that it tends to focus on the ‘problem’, and can be very heavy. In consultation with a qualified expressive arts therapist, however, there is a different, refreshing approach which is based on theory and principles. In essence it can be described with the following poem” …
Refresh Refresh Refresh
renewed confidence
resource approach
drawing upon own knowing
allowing the light within to
shine
brighter
smile
effortless
Fun!
Refreshing
Refreshed
AL
Individual therapy

“The experience for me was quite transforming. The positive effect it had on me was very surprising.  I definitely came out of the group more informed and open-minded.”  Cynthia

Turning Point Group

“Six weeks of inspiring sessions with a fabulous facilitator who helped me find direction and grounding in a time of transition- wonderfully helpful.” CI

Turning Point Group

“I would like to share with folks  the experience of being guided into processing challenges collaboratively.  Very powerful. Karen is an excellent guide, mediator and listener.  I’d recommend these sessions.”  Nyssa

Turning Point Group

“deeply moving”  Barb

Turning Point Group

“Very freeing and beautiful process, allowed me to ground in my being versus thought-based doing.”   AW

Turning Point Group

“The Turning Point Group was a trendsetting transitional experience combining traditional group techniques with artistic expression tools.  To my surprise this was a compassionate awakening to my life’s transition process.  The small group environment and collective interactions provided me with insights and practical lessons which created a positive shift in navigating my transitional challenges.  The group dynamics provided profound personal discovery, self-awareness and an introduction to methods for continuous self-improvement.  The group was an excellent supplement to my ongoing unique and innovative therapeutic work with Karen.”    Bruce.

The Turning Point Group
“Turning Point helped me get past a significant trauma that was like a record skipping in my mind.”    KT
                                                                 
The Turning Point Group

“The experience of attending the Turning Point Group was enriching in ways that are hard to put into words.  I have welcomed the opportunity to connect with others and express myself freely.”  Robyn

                                                 

 

The Turning Point Group

“An opportunity to spend 6 weeks connecting with my own playfulness, inner knowing and creativity in community.”   Adele

      

 

The Turning Point Group

“It has been a rich life-encompassing process that has reinforced who I am and given me guidance and directions for growth and expression.  It was led by a wise life affirming facilitator, rich in life experience and graciousness”.   ET

 

                                        

Turning Point Group

“What a truly amazing experience! Having no formal training in singing and not a very strong singing voice, Karen’s workshop made me feel like a singer! What is so unique about ImprovSING is that it’s not rehearsed, so there is a freedom in Karen’s choice of songs and how the group sings them. The group was so welcoming and I can’t wait to go back. Did I mention how great the mind and body feels after singing for 1.5 hours? Highly recommend for anyone who wants to let it out in song!” BO’C

ImprovSING Drop-in Group

“It is possible to reconnect with one’s whole self through the facilitated process.” AW

Recover Your Rhythm Series

“A fulfilling & enriching experience. If it is new for someone, think of taking a risk and trying it out!” EB

Recover Your Rhythm Series

“The process was incredibly nourishing, helped me listen more deeply to my inner knowing & I so appreciated Karen’s experiential, curious, delighted approach to discovery.” MM

Recover Your Rhythm Series

Allowing,
Allowing
For more space
For being
And for being ok with taking more space

Creating space
For unplanned time
to just be with whatever is needed
by me,
by us
letting go of all expectations
surprisingly quickly

Resting
arriving
surprisingly effortless

Taking time
To be
happy

No distractions
just possibility
and openness

Like breathing
a breath of fresh air
Surprisingly, refreshingly
clean
in it's simplicity
it's loving mindset

We're being just as we are
suprisingly
lovingly
refreshingly
here

- A reflective response to the group, shaping their words into poetry.

Created together, by us - October 11, 2016 Mount Royal Station