Parenting Support

Virtual Art Therapy Benefits for Teens

Benefits of Online Art Therapy for Teens

Online art therapy or drama therapy provides a safe and accessible way for teens to engage in creative expression while receiving therapeutic support. Here are some key benefits:

1. Accessibility & Convenience

  • Removes geographical barriers, making therapy available to teens who may not have access to in-person services.

  • Provides flexibility in scheduling, reducing the need for travel and making it easier to fit into busy school or extracurricular schedules.

  • Allows teens with mobility challenges, social anxiety, or other barriers to receive therapy in a comfortable setting.

2. Safe & Familiar Environment

  • Engaging in therapy from home can help teens feel more at ease, reducing initial anxiety around therapy.

  • The familiar environment can encourage more openness and authentic self-expression.

3. Increased Comfort & Engagement

  • Some teens find it easier to express themselves through digital mediums rather than verbal communication alone.

  • The use of digital art tools (such as drawing apps) can enhance creativity and accessibility.

4. Encourages Emotional Expression & Processing

  • Art provides a non-verbal outlet for emotions, allowing teens to express difficult feelings like stress, anxiety, or trauma.

  • Helps with processing experiences and fostering emotional awareness.

5. Builds Coping Skills & Resilience

  • Art therapy can teach teens effective coping strategies for anxiety, depression, and stress.

  • Encourages self-reflection and problem-solving through creative exploration.

6. Promotes Self-Esteem & Identity Exploration

  • Teens can explore their identity and self-worth through creative expression.

  • Art therapy fosters a sense of accomplishment, helping build confidence.

7. Strengthens Social & Communication Skills

  • For group sessions, online art therapy can provide a sense of community and connection with peers.

  • Can support communication skills in a low-pressure, creative format.

8. Trauma-Informed & Emotionally Regulating

  • Art therapy provides a gentle and effective way to process trauma without the need for direct verbalization.

  • Engaging in art can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and emotional regulation.

9. Private & Confidential

  • Online sessions can offer a private space where teens feel safer to express themselves without fear of judgment.

  • Sessions are structured to maintain confidentiality and a sense of safety.

10. Integrates Well with Other Therapeutic Approaches

  • Can complement talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other therapeutic modalities.

  • Works well as a standalone practice or as part of a holistic mental health plan.

Online art therapy provides an accessible, flexible, and powerful way for teens to engage in self-exploration and healing. By combining creativity with therapeutic guidance, it empowers them to navigate challenges and build emotional resilience. If you are interested in exploring more, call us today on 519 307 9000 or email admin@artastherapy.ca. We look forward to connecting with you.

For parents

For parents of teen clients, we also offer therapy for adults as well as parenting support. Sessions for parents provide an opportunity to explore the challenges of parenting in a safe, non-judgmental space and allows for parents to tap into their existing skills and build new ones to help them foster a stronger relationship with their child. Call us today to book your session or to learn more. Parenting a teen is not always easy, you do not have to do it alone! We are here to help. You can reach us on 519 307 9000 or email admin@artastherapy.ca.

5 Steps On Setting Up A Routine

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5 Simple Steps on Setting Up a Routine

To preface, we want to share that routines could look differently for each family. What works for one family might not work for another! 

However, all routines have similar traits which will make them successful:

  • They must be planned

  • They must be predictable

  • They must be regular!

Although this is not a one size fits all, we wanted to provide some tips on how to provide routine for your child. We’ve gathered the most important components of what makes a good routine, but you can always tweak it to your liking.

1. Establish the most important times

- Wake up time

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Shower/bath time

- Bed time 

Try to aim to have everyone eat, sleep and play at the same time. Having expectations that everyone comes together for meals can provide structure and organization for your child and family. 

2. Practice patience, repetition, more practice and repeat!

  • Although it’s okay to be flexible and keep time frames loose, it’s consistency in routines that’ll help make routines stick

  • For little ones (and grown ups too!), it can take a long time and great effort to adapt to structure 

3. Establish special times with your child

  • Make expectations of spending quality family time whether that’s having a regular board game night once a week or making Saturday night a movie night 

  • During the day: Think of an activity you both can do together to connect during your day. Even if it’s a short time, practicing being present and giving your undivided attention (without devices) can go a long way

  • During the night: Make time to connect before bedtime, whether that’s 10 mins of snuggling, talking about a highlight of their day or reading 

4. Adjust as needed

  • Take time to revisit your week and see what worked, what didn’t. You can ask your child too on what they appreciated the most or would like to see changed. As we mentioned before, each child and family is different, so tailoring your schedule accordingly is important. Just keep in mind that the essential times (wake up time, meals, bedtime) plays the most important role in your child’s routine

5. Accept that it won’t be easy! 

  • Practice self-compassion by reminding yourself that new routines are hard, especially when confronted with challenging times or transitions. Take moments to breathe, let yourself know that you’re trying your best and that tomorrow will be another day!

The science 

For those of you who are interested in the science behind the importance of routines here is some information. 

Our nervous system needs and craves predictability. Consistency, knowing what to expect and when, helps us from the time that we are born, to regulate our emotions and to tolerate big feelings. Imagine if someone kept turning the thermostat at home or work up and down all the time, it would not feel very nice to be cold one minute and really hot the next and have no idea whether to keep the sweater on or off. Having routines is like a thermostat for our nervous system. 

Wisdom from parents

Establishing routines is really hard and depending on your family situation they can also be really challenging. Parents tell us time and time again that sticking to routines no matter how difficult makes things easier in the long run. Their children are more settled, less displays of big feelings and parents or caregivers feel more in control, and this feeling allows children to feel a deeper sense of security. 

How can we help?

Raising a child or a couple of them is no easy task! Some parent(s) / caregivers do not have access to resources and or extended family and friends for support. So you if would like our support in helping you on your parenting journey or feel your child could benefit from therapeutic support, please do not hesitate to contact us about our services. You can reach our lovely admin team to book a complimentary phone call via admin@artastherapy.ca or call on 519 307 9000 / 905 783 5939.