Kristen McKinnon 

I believe in the innate goodness of people and the power of connection to influence positive change. My focus is to help you grow authentically and holistically so you feel as though you are thriving, not just surviving. I am a strong advocate for supporting families and communities – our lived experiences are influenced by our caregivers and surrounding environments. Thus, I believe through building stronger, healthier, and more connected families and broader communities we can create a positive change, a ripple-effect, in our society.

 

I acknowledge seeking mental health support can be challenging. My goal is to welcome you with a warm, non-judgmental approach. My role is to guide you in finding what you need from our work together. You are uniquely you and the expert in your lived experiences. Thus, I believe our work together should be tailored to your individual needs. In doing so, I rely on a variety of techniques and modalities. 

 

I specialize in providing talk-based and art-based therapy to youth and adults who are struggling with a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, interpersonal relationship conflicts, and exploring sense of self. I have a special passion for working with individuals navigating life changes; youth navigating the transition to adulthood, new and expecting mothers, or other areas of personal growth.

 

I hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with a double a major in psychology and sociology (2016), a Master of Counselling in Art Therapy (MC:AT) from Athabasca University (2020), and an advanced diploma in Art Therapy from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute (2020). I am a registered psychotherapist in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and a Professional Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).

 

If you require additional information on my approach to art psychotherapy, I would be happy to discuss - during a 15-minute consultation. 

 

Interested in learning more about art therapy? Read more here.