Dani Minuskin
Art Therapist | MA, CCC
Hi, I'm Dani.
I'm an artist and art therapist based in Tiohtiá:ke/Montréal.
As an art therapist and certified counsellor, my goal is to help you connect with yourself and access your inner guide. Difficult and traumatic experiences often leave traces and show up in the ways that we experience the world around us. Using processes to achieve emotional and nervous system regulation, I strive to help you experience the world more peacefully.
I offer individual art therapy and counselling to adults and adolescents who have had difficult life experiences and are seeking to heal their wounds and reconnect with themselves.
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy takes an art-based approach to therapeutic counselling. In the therapy space, artmaking offers the possibility of accessing difficult experiences - often those that are challenging to communicate - in a gentle, safe, and contained way.
Often, an art therapist will provide prompts that invite the client to engage in artmaking in an intentional and thought-provoking way. This process allows the inner world of the client to become externalized and explored through metaphor and with curiosity. I see this artwork as a mirror that allows alternative views into our inner landscape.
No artistic experience is necessary to participate in art therapy! It is entirely about the process and the power of self-expression.
I believe that you are the sole expert of your life experience and greatly value you having agency in your healing. My role as therapist is to support and enhance this sense of agency.
My Therapeutic Approach
Although art therapy is my foundation, I utilise many other therapeutic interventions in order to address the client's 'stuck' points. I hold a trauma-informed, intersectional, and culturally sensitive lens while constantly working to sustain an anti-oppressive and decolonized practice through continuous self-reflexion, learning, and listening. Practicing sensitivity and humility when engaging with clients and communities is very important to me.
My client-centered approach to clinical work integrates art with trauma-sensitive mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I choose art therapy over talk therapy?
Although talk therapy works for many people, sometimes difficult lived experiences are too challenging to talk about. It can feel fragmenting and overwhelming to find words for experiences that are unspeakable. I find that art therapy can help you access those wounded parts of you in a gentle and contained way while still providing a sense of safety in the distance inherent in self-expression through metaphor. Furthermore, the creative arts therapies can provide a more wholistic therapeutic experience through their capacity to access multiple sensory points. Creative arts therapies have been shown to be very effective in treating symptoms related to traumatic experiences.
What if I don't want to make art?
That's fine, you don't have to. We can just talk if that feels safer for you.
Do you offer in-person or virtual sessions?
At the moment I am only offering virtual sessions.
Do you take insurance?
I can provide receipts as a Counsellor or Naturopath so that you can be reimbursed by your insurance provider.
Coverage may be available for counselling with Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) on these insurance companies: Pacific Blue Cross, Equitable Life, Greenshield, Johnston Group, and Sun Life, but it depends on the plan you have with them. Please contact your insurance provider to verify which counselling service providers are approved under your plan.
I can provide Naturopath receipts through the Academy of Naturopaths and Naturotherapists of Canada (ACNN). The following providers do not accept these receipts: Blue Cross, Industrial Alliance and Equitable Life of Canada.
If my services are not covered by your insurance plan, you may be able to use my receipts to receive deductions on your taxes.
I don't live in Montréal, can I have virtual sessions with you from another province?
Each province and territory has different regulations for who can practice as a counsellor or an art therapist. Therapeutic counselling is regulated in some provinces and territories and not others while art therapy is a self-regulated practice. Thus, I can provide art therapy services anywhere in Canada but depending on where you are, I may not be able to provide Counsellor or Naturopath receipts. Please check with your local regulating organizations. Feel free to connect with me to discuss.
Can you diagnose me or provide a psychiatric assessment?
As an art therapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor, I do not diagnose mental health conditions or provide psychiatric assessments.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes! I offer a free 20-minute phone or video consultation so that we can introduce ourselves and get a sense of your needs. This is a good opportunity to get a first impression and decide whether you would like to book a full session with me.
What's the first session like?
In the first session I will ask you some questions about your world in order to get a good sense of what your needs are. This will feel more like a conversation. You will have the space to share anything you feel is pertinent information and to ask me questions. We will explore what your goals are for yourself and you'll gain a good sense of how we will move forward together.
Are you a member of any accrediting organizations?
Yes! I am a Professional Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) posessing a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) designation and a Professional Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).
What's your educational background?
I received my MA in Creative Arts Therapies (Art Therapy Option) from Concordia University in Montreal and my BFA in Drawing and Painting from OCADU in Toronto. I also keep up to date with regular workshops and trainings related to my art therapy and counselling practice as required to maintain my CCC designation.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any unanswered questions!