About

Jen Vivian, BFA, MA

Having graduated from the Masters of Art Therapy program at Concordia University in Montreal, I have recently relocated back to the East Coast.

Originally from Newfoundland, I am happy to bring art therapy services to rural Cape Breton.

After completing my undergraduate degree in studio arts, I spent time living and working abroad. When a family emergency brought me home to Newfoundland I started making art again. After the death of my mother, art making helped me through the grief process and became an integral part of my life. I then decided to pursue my Masters degree in Art Therapy to help other people benefit from the healing power of art.

I work within an anti-opression framework and have experience working with Indigenous communities. Being of Inuk and European descent, I developed a model of art therapy using Traditional Indigenous Healing Philosophies, mainly based on the Medicine Wheel. You can read about my model here: https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/977982/

I have had the honor of offering art therapy workshops at Healing Gatherings across Unama'ki (Cape Breton) and have completed a pilot art therapy project at a local Mi'kmaw school.

I believe that art therapy can contribute to Truth and Reconciliation across Turtle Island. My thoughts are articulated in this article published by the Canadian Art THerapy Association

Reconciliation: A Contemplation of the Role of Art Therapy

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08322473.2018.1453223