Melanie Forest
Art Therapist
Melanie graduated with distinction in 2006 from Concordia University earning a Master of Arts in Art Therapy. Melanie is an art therapist specialized in working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She provides sessions in English and uses techniques from different approaches such as art therapy, play therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and mindfulness in her practice
Melanie has worked extensively supporting children within the public school system, and working with at-risk children, adolescents and their families. Having years of experience in schools settings, Melanie provides recommendations and interventions that can be shared with school staff to improve the support of children and their families.
Melanie has extensive experience working with individuals who present symptoms in areas such as depression, anxiety, trauma, adjustment issues, life transitions, anger and aggression issues, self-esteem and self-confidence issues, relationship issues, and gender identity/sexuality issues, as well as individuals with special needs. Melanie works with children and their families to reduce the presenting problems and help children become mentally and psychologically strong to better cope with unpleasant life events. Melanie is available for online or in-person sessions at our Pointe Claire office. Book an appointment with Melanie here.
Cindy Tsay – LMFT, ATR
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Registered Art Therapist
Cindy is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a registered Art Therapist in Quebec. She specializes in Couples Therapy with the focus of using relational research from the Gottman Institute and implementing the Gottman Method to support the couples’ relationship needs. She also specializes in Individual Relationship Therapy to help individuals bring their best selves into their most intimate relationships through narrative therapy, art therapy, and attachment-based interventions and and helps her clients practice relationship skills such as non-violent communication, emotional regulation, empathetic listening, and relational compassion.
As a second-generation immigrant with a TCK background, Cindy is sensitive to how our larger cultural, spiritual, and family contexts shape the way we experience life and all the transitions in between. In therapy, she is committed to understanding the larger systems that have influence over her clients as they situate the presenting issues into the right context for change. In her professional and personal experiences, she firmly believes compassionate practices open opportunities for recovery, growth, connections, and allow the experience of joy. Cindy is committed to providing the safest relationship for her clients to make meaningful changes in their unique life stories.
Cindy is not taking on any new clients at this time.
Cara Rosa
Art Therapist
Cara Rosa obtained her MA in Counselling with Art Therapy Specialization from Athabasca University and Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. Cara has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. She works with individuals with different cultural backgrounds and provides the sessions in English.
Cara has a special interest in using art to explore and develop identity and self-esteem, particularly with women and older adolescents. Cara works from an integrated approach, combining person-centered art therapy with CBT and mindfulness techniques aimed at helping clients attain their therapeutic goals. Cara is only taking on new clients for online sessions. Book an appointment with Cara here.
Émilie Hamel
Art Therapist
Émilie completed her Master’s degree in art-therapy at Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT). With experience of more than 10 years in working with children and teenagers, she has a comprehensive knowledge of difficulties that can affect children and youth. She also has experience supporting adults in their parenting, relationships, life transitions and mental health issues. Her works with individuals aim to support and improve self-expression and empowerment.
Émilie can provide support for individuals with a history of addiction and cyber-addiction, anxiety, depression, gender or sexual identity/issues, physical or psychological abuse, trauma as well as self-confidence and self-esteem issues, life transitions, anger issues, etc. With a client-centered practice, she applies techniques from different approaches such as gestalt-therapy, psychodynamic approach, cognitive-behavioral-therapy and systematic therapy. Emilie provides art therapy in English and French. Book an appointment with Émilie here.
Deniz Naji
Art Therapist
Deniz is a professional member of the Quebec Art Therapy Association working with adults, teens and children from diverse backgrounds. She has several years of experience working systemically in schools, in private and community settings with minors and families on issues such as family and peer relationships, transitioning and adjustment issues, self-harm, anger issues, LGBTQ+ issues, low self-esteem, emotional and behavioural dysregulation. Deniz can provide progress and recommendation reports to schools in supporting children with their process.
Deniz uses an integrative approach, combining holistic therapy drawn from psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, mindfulness and CBT. She incorporates expressive arts, counselling, somatic awareness, movement and play into her work. She is currently training in Play Therapy, IFS and EFT and accepting couples as new clients.
As a member of the Iranian diaspora, she works through a decolonizing, anti-oppressive and trauma-informed lens to enhance resiliency and promote recovery, understanding that personal experiences of trauma are layered in structural intersectionalities and social inequalities.
Deniz provides online and in-person services in English and Farsi/Persian at our Brossard and Pointe Claire locations. Book an appointment with Deniz here.
Laurence Gagnon
Art Therapist
Laurence Gagnon completed her master’s degree in art therapy at Concordia University and is a professional member of Quebec Art Therapy Association (ATTQ). With ten years of experience in intervention through the arts, she is equipped to create collaborative and benevolent spaces of expression in French, English and Spanish, adapted to different rhythms and varied needs whether she is working with adults, children, adolescents, and including people of the neurodiversity. Cultural humility is an important and constantly evolving value in her work. Laurence offers trauma-informed art therapy with a person-centred and intersectional approach, inviting clients of diverse cultural backgrounds, to expand their own voice through the creative process. Her therapeutic approach revolves around psychodynamic and systemic approaches, integrating mindfulness to guide toward well-being anchored in a deep self-knowledge in relation to the world and others.
Laurence is available for online and in-person sessions at our Pointe Claire and Downtown locations.
Book an appointment with Laurence here.
Yu-Hsuan (Chloe) Ko
Art Therapist
Yu-Hsuan received her post-baccalaureate diploma in art therapy from Kutenai Art Therapy Institute. As an existential art therapist, Yu-Hsuan uses relational, person-centered, feminist and mindful approaches to working with children, adults and the elderly. She approaches the healing process from a culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed lens. She has experience supporting clients from diverse cultural backgrounds with a special interest in empowering women. Yu-Hsuan uses creative expression to explore life experiences, such as trauma, mental health and wellness, life transitions, grief and loss, existential issues and life purposes to promote healing and wellbeing.
Yu-Hsuan is a professional member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) and the Association des Art-Thérapeutes du Québec (AATQ) and a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario.
Yu-Hsuan offers therapy services in Mandarin and English and is proficient in offering art therapy to her clients in an online format. Yu-Hsuan offers in-person therapy services in Brossard. Book an appointment with Yu-Hsuan here.
Nicole (Nikki) Agro
Art Therapist | Counsellor
Nicole Agro is a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and the Canadian Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists (ACNN). She holds a MA in Art Therapy from Concordia University, where she was involved in Art Hives and at the Jewish General Hospital.
Nicole has extensive experience working with children, teens, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Indigenous Peoples, Deaf, and refugee communities. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, life transitions, ASD, ADHD, and cognitive behavioral difficulties. Her approach incorporates trauma-informed practices, CBT, mindfulness, and narrative therapy, which she offers both in English and ASL (American Sign Language). Nicole offers art therapy in Montreal to the Cree and Mohawk children and teenagers and also visits schools and First Nations communities to offer individual and group art therapy sessions.
Nicole’s goal is to empower clients to explore and express themselves through creative outlets, helping them navigate and process complex emotions. Her mission is to provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive space where clients can reclaim their voice, build meaningful connections, and continue their journey toward healing and well-being.
Nicole is available for online and in-person sessions at our Downtown location. Book an appointment with Nicole here.
Cyndie Bussière
Art Therapist
Cyndie Bussière holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy from Concordia University and is a professional member of the Quebec Art Therapy Association (AATQ). With over 10 years of experience working with children, Cyndie has worked as an art therapist with children and youth in a pediatric center, where she honed her skills in a systemic approach. She has also worked in a mental health center, providing individual and group services for adults using a humanistic and psychodynamic approach.
Throughout her career, she has followed various trainings to develop a unique multidisciplinary approach, including play therapy, nature-based expressive art therapies, ritual practices, mindfulness, somatic art therapy, and trauma-informed art therapy. Her experiences have enabled her to work with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. She is also a visiting art therapist to the Indigenous communities in the North of Quebec.
Cyndie collaborates with her clients, offering personalized services that meet their needs. She creates a welcoming space with a client-centered approach, allowing clients to express themselves on a wide range of topics, such as self-awareness, self-esteem, trauma, life transitions, anxiety, identity issues, emotional regulation, mourning, and relationship issues.
Cyndie offers art therapy services in both French and English via online therapy. Book an appointment with Cyndie here.
Wry Finkelstein
Drama Therapist
Wry is a creative arts therapist, artist, and community member living in Tiohtà:ke. Wry received their masters degree in drama therapy at Concordia University in 2020. Wry has done theatre since they were young and know intimately that having the space to play, create, and connect, can help to heal and process personal, cultural, and intergenerational trauma.
Wry has experience working with non-neurotypical, queer, BIPOC, and low income populations. They have worked with individuals ranging from 4-60, and with both groups and individuals. In their therapy work they are informed by play therapy, self-revelatory theatre and performance, internal family systems/parts work, and the wide range of tools and perspectives encapsulated under Drama Therapy. Wry believes that the greatest gift they can give in therapy is their particular presence and practice therapy as a co-healing experience where they offer tools, guidance, and companionship in an individual’s journey towards themselves. They are currently working with Kanien’kehá:ka youth in the Kahnawà:ke schools.
In terms of identity Wry is a non-neurotypical (ADHD) therapist living with type 1 Diabetes and Crohn’s disease. They are of Polish and Syrian Jewish descent. They are Non-Binary/Transgender. They offer these identity markers in case a client is looking for a therapist with an embodied understanding of non-neurotypical realities, Illness/disability, Queerness, and a complex dynamic/history with white supremacy. They intend to offer a space where the understanding of intersectional realities is present, and centre humility in this venture. Book an appointment with Wry here.
Nada Khashaba
Drama Therapist, Counsellor
Nada Khashaba is a drama therapist whose particular experiences working within cultural communities firmly roots their anti-racist and anti-oppressive, decolonial perspective in reality. Nada graduated with a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies – Drama Therapy option from Concordia University in 2019, and completed her heuristic research project on how to create cultural safety as a settler drama therapist working with Indigenous clients. Nada works with all ages, and all gender expressions, but has specific experience working in religious communities and with youth. Nada can provide therapy in English or Arabic, and draws from Play therapy, Developmental Transformations and Psychodramatic techniques in her work. Nada has experience working in elementary schools and can provide supportive intervention and psychoeducation to staff and parents of children they work with.
Some of the diverse topics Nada has experience working with include, but are not limited to, immigration and diasporic experiences, family and cultural trauma, colonial trauma, gender/sexual identity and/or trauma, emotional regulation, anxiety, self-esteem, boundary work and goal-setting, holistic healing and creative dreaming. Nada can provide therapy sessions in English and Arabic. Nada is available for online and in-person sessions at our Downtown location. Book an appointment with Nada here.
Juliana Duimstra
Art Therapist
Juliana Duimstra holds a Master’s in Art Therapy from Concordia University and is a member of the Canadian Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) and the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).
With client-centred, trauma-informed, mindfulness approaches to therapy, Juliana works with the client’s needs and goals to provide a tailored approach. She also implements CBT and solution-focused approaches. She supports clients facing a range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, life transitions, faith and religious issues, low self-esteem, attachment/relational issues, grief and loss, trauma, eating disorders, ADHD, and health challenges.
Juliana supports children who are struggling with school refusal, separation anxiety, bed wetting, parent separation/divorce, chronic illness, and attachment issues. Art therapy can also provide children with ASD emotional support, creative self-expression, and benefit self-esteem.
Juliana takes great joy in working with children, teens, young adults, and adults, guiding them on their journey toward mental and emotional wellness, and helping them to thrive. She believes in the transformative impact of artmaking within a therapeutic context. Juliana also offers play therapy to children aged 3-12.
Book an appointment with Juliana here.
Vanessa Weva
Psychologist
Vanessa completed her Ph.D. degree in School and Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology at McGill University and is a professional member of the Order of Psychologist in Quebec (OPQ). She completed a field placement at a CLSC in Montreal, and her residency training at the Montreal Children's Hospital. She has vast experience in psychological assessments as well as interventions among clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Her therapeutic approach involves CBT, ACT, DBT, and systematic based therapies.
Vanessa offers services in French and English. Vanessa is not taking on new clients at this time.
Laila Hamouda
Art Therapist
Laila earned her master's degree in art therapy from Concordia University and is an active member of the Quebec Art Therapy Association, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and the Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists of Canada. She is also a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC).
Laila's experience includes working with children, teenagers, and adults on a broad spectrum of concerns such as trauma, anxiety, depression, self-harm, behavioral difficulties, low self-esteem, and relational and identity struggles. Laila has also worked with individuals who were asylum seekers. She strives to create a therapeutic space where clients feel supported and understood, regardless of their unique circumstances.
Laila's therapeutic approach is characterized by collaboration and creating an empathic space for clients to share their stories. She is committed to fostering a non-judgmental atmosphere and building trusting relationships. Utilizing an integrative approach, Laila draws from a range of theoretical frameworks, including psychodynamic, systemic and client-centered modalities. She approaches therapy from a trauma-informed perspective and maintains cultural humility, recognizing and respecting the diverse cultural backgrounds of her clients. Laila tailors her approach to meet the unique needs and goals of each client. She aims to support clients in recognizing their own strengths and resilience.
Laila offers services in French, English, Arabic to ensure effective communication and connection with her clients. She's available for online and in-person sessions at our Downtown location. Book an appointment with Laila here.
Jude Ibrahim
Art Therapist
Jude Ibrahim graduated with an MA degree from Concordia University and she is a professional member of the Quebec Art Therapy Association, Canadian Art Therapy Association and the Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists in Canada.
Training and working in a variety of community centres, therapy clinics, educational settings, and non-profit organizations, Jude has witnessed how art making & the creative process can be a powerful tool for emotional expression, storytelling, and a form of connection & communication amongst many communities.
Throughout her therapy practice, Jude has worked with a range of ages & diverse experiences related to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, intrapersonal difficulties, life transitions, immigration, and forced displacement. She aims to collaboratively work with clients to create a safe and personalized process that helps each individual explore their own needs, express themselves, and witness their strengths.
Jude provides therapy in English and Arabic and values integrating non-judgmental, client-centred, culturally-humble, and trauma-informed principles in the therapeutic services and spaces she offers. She is available for online and in-person sessions in our Downtown location. Book an appointment with Jude here.
Paige Rice
Art Therapist
Paige Rice holds a master’s degree in Art Therapy from Concordia University and is an active member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, as well as a qualifying registrant with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
Originally from Wasauksing First Nation, Paige was raised in the vibrant city of Toronto, Ontario. Her identity deeply influences her therapeutic approach, blending perspectives from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous worldviews. Paige’s training and experience are grounded in the theory and practice of art therapy, allowing her to work with diverse populations facing a wide range of challenges, both individually and in groups.
With a strong academic foundation in psychology, human development, and the therapeutic use of art, Paige is passionate about harnessing the power of creativity to guide individuals on their paths toward healing and self-discovery. Her commitment to the field of art therapy stems from a firm belief in the transformative potential of artistic expression and its profound ability to enhance mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. She is available for virtual sessions only.
Book an appointment with Paige here.
Rafaela Diaz-Byers
Drama Therapist
Rafaela is a Master’s level therapist who brings a unique, multicultural perspective to her work in Montreal. Rafaela is a professional member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), the Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists of Canada (ACNN) and the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA).
Rafaela’s practice focuses on children, youth, and families. Her approach is client-centered, trauma-informed, and strength-based, ensuring that each individual receives personalized care.
With an MA in Drama Therapy and a Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy, Rafaela has enhanced clinical skills in attachment, anxiety, family and cultural trauma, familial separation, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and developmental disabilities. She has extensive experience working with neurodiverse adults (e.g., Autism Spectrum, ADHD, Dyslexia) and supporting young mothers and their children through parental coaching.
Rafaela’s therapeutic methods include drama and play therapy, helping clients explore emotions, explore past traumas, and develop coping skills. Rafaela’s commitment to empowerment, collaboration, and resilience ensures a supportive and effective therapeutic experience for all her clients.
Rafaela provides Drama and Play therapy in English in downtown Montreal.
Book an appointment with Rafaela here.
Lysanne Morissette
Art Therapist, Social Worker
Lysanne Morissette is in the process of completing a master’s degree in Art-Therapy (UQAT). She is a social worker who is a registered member of OTSTCFQ and a multidisciplinary artist. She draws inspiration from diverse approaches applied to art-therapy such as : process oriented therapy, jungian philosophy, gestalt-therapy, somatic practices and mindfulness-based perspectives. She adopts an intersectional, feminist and trauma informed lens. For Lysanne, the therapeutic space can support self-expression through empathy, a respect for individual rhythms, encouraged self-determination and a belief in every individual’s inherent resources and potential for healing.
Lysanne has 12 years of social intervention practice in different contexts and with a variety of populations including children, teenagers, adults and the elderly, both in the province of Quebec and in Europe. She is particularly sensitive to questions related to the LGBTQIA2+ community as well as gender issues, grief challenges, life transitions, existential questionings, and the realities of first nations communities and immigrant populations.
In art-therapy, creativity and the imagination, unique to each individual, are ways of connecting to oneself, to others, and to the world. Art-therapists act as a catalyst for the creative and therapeutic process, adapting to the needs of the the person consulting.
Lysanne provides services in French and English, and is available for online or in-person sessions at our Downtown and Brossard locations. Book an appointment with Lysanne here.
Man-Hsuan (Man) Chen
Art Therapist
Man is a professional member of the Quebec Art Therapy Association (AATQ), l'Association des Naturothérapeutes du Québec (ANQ) and the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She has worked with a diverse range of clients, including students, adults, seniors, and asylum seekers.
Her therapeutic approach integrates Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused methods, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for exploration. Man is committed to fostering a safe, accepting, and nurturing space characterized by open-mindedness, compassion, and a steadfast dedication to her clients' well-being.
Man focuses on addressing mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, ADHD, and dementia. Her expertise also extends to cultural topics, LGBTQ+ topics, selfcare, and empowerment.
Her sensitivity to cultural contexts enriches her practice, allowing her to effectively support clients from diverse backgrounds. Passionate about the transformative potential of art therapy, she believes in its strength to foster change and creativity in the therapeutic journey.
Man offers therapy in both English and Mandarin, and is available for virtual and in-person sessions at our Pointe Claire and Downtown locations.
Book an appointment with Man here.
Natalia Apic
Art Therapist
Natalia has a Master's degree in Art Therapy from Concordia University and is a member of Quebec Art Therapy Association and Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She is a certified Art Therapist in Montreal, specializing in Child-Centered Play Therapy and an internationally recognized Child-Parent Relationship Therapist (Level 1). Her trauma-informed, client-led approach is rooted in humanistic principles, focusing on a sensory-based and holistic therapeutic process. Whenever possible, Natalia integrates*nature-based play and art therapy to enhance the therapeutic experience.
With extensive experience working with neurodiverse individuals and those with other disabilities, Natalia provides a safe, supportive, and empathetic environment for children, teens, and adults. Her passion for art therapy in Montreal drives her to offer tailored, compassionate care that meets each client's unique needs.
Natalia is available for sessions at our downtown Montreal location.
Book an appointment with Natalia here.
Ashley Asuncion
Art Therapist
After completing her Master of Arts in Art Therapy at Concordia University, Ashley became a professional member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA), the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and the Quebec Naturotherapist Association (ANQ). With extensive experience in non-profit organizations and public health clinics, she is trained to work with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.
Ashley integrates a variety of therapeutic frameworks tailored to each client's needs, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, person-centred, solution-focused, and psychodynamic approaches. As a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive art therapist in Montreal, she specializes in supporting individuals facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, self-harm, identity, self-esteem, emotional regulation, grief, ADHD, and life transitions.
Her practice aims to create a safe space for self-expression, self-exploration, and self-understanding, fostering self-compassion and resilience. Ashley values the therapeutic process of art-making, empowering clients to communicate and embrace their creativity. If you’re seeking art therapy in Montreal for trauma, depression, or emotional regulation, Ashley is here to help.
Ashley offers art therapy sessions in our Pointe-Claire office in both English and French.
Book an appointment with Ashley here.
Jo Turner
Administrative Assistant
Jo Turner is the administrative support professional at Montreal Art Therapy. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Visual Art earned at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, as well as a Graphic Design diploma from Humber College in Toronto. For nearly twenty years, Jo dedicated herself to teaching English as a Second Language, engaging with diverse groups of learners in South Korea and Canada. During her teaching career, she frequently utilized art as a method to convey complex concepts and abstract notions effectively.
While living abroad, Jo enjoyed an extensive period of more than three and a half years as a photographer, embarking on journeys through Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe where she befriended countless feline companions.