Toronto Art Therapy for Kids

Empowering children to get creative with their sensitivity super powers

Expressive arts therapy for kids with anxiety, big feelings, and life changes

In-person child therapy across Toronto’s west end.

Toronto Art Therapy for Kids is a collective of expressive arts therapists offering creative, relational psychotherapy for children and youth. Through art, play, story, music, movement and imagination, children can explore experiences that may be difficult to express in words.

Help me choose a therapist

Meet our therapists

Locations in Roncesvalles, the Junction, the Annex and Little Italy near College and Bathurst. Brockton Village coming soon.

Could expressive arts therapy be a fit for your child?

Your child might be:

Carrying worries, fears, separation anxiety or school stress
Easily overwhelmed, shutting down or having strong emotional reactions
Navigating ADHD, sensory sensitivity or neurodivergence
Struggling with confidence, friendships or expressing their needs
Adjusting to family change, grief or another difficult experience
More comfortable showing what is happening through play or creativity than talking about it

Your child does not need to be artistic. Sessions are shaped around their interests, comfort, boundaries and individual pace.

Meet our west-end Toronto therapists

Kate Keenan

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Expressive Arts Therapist
Ages 4+ · Annex and Little Italy/College & Bathurst · $130
Kate offers warm, playful and child-led therapy for children experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, high sensitivity, ADHD, neurodivergence and life changes.
Meet Kate →

Rieko Asaba

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) and Expressive Arts Therapist
Ages 4+ · The Junction · $130
Rieko draws on extensive child-and-family experience in a relational, trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach incorporating expressive arts, play and body awareness.
Meet Rieko →

Bee Pallomina

Registered Psychotherapist and Expressive Arts Therapist
Ages 8+ · Roncesvalles · $150
Bee brings more than 25 years as a professional dance artist to a creative, relational and body-aware approach with children and youth.
Meet Bee →

Lisa DiQuinzio

Expressive Arts Therapist
Coming soon: will offer sessions in Brockton Village near Lansdowne and Dundas.
Meet Lisa →

How to get started

Tell us what you need. Contact a particular therapist or use our “Help me choose” form.

Meet your therapist. Begin with a complimentary consultation to ask questions and consider fit.

Plan together. A caregiver intake explores your child’s strengths, interests, concerns and goals before individual sessions begin.

help me choose a therapist

Fees and locations

Individual sessions are $130–$150 for 50 minutes, depending on the therapist. Receipts are provided by the treating therapist; please confirm psychotherapy coverage with your insurance provider.

In-person appointments are available in Roncesvalles, the Junction, the Annex and Little Italy near College and Bathurst. A Brockton Village location is coming soon.

Find creative support for your child

Not sure which therapist would be the best fit? Tell us your child’s age, preferred location, schedule and what kind of support you are seeking. We will help you explore the available options.

help me choose a therapist

Toronto Art Therapy for Kids is a collective of independent practitioners. Each therapist maintains their own private practice, records, fees and professional responsibilities.

What is Expressive Arts Therapy?

Expressive Arts Therapy, or Creative Art Therapy is a form of therapy that uses various creative modalities—such as visual arts, music, movement, and creative writing—to help individuals explore their emotions and improve mental health. It is particularly beneficial for children who find it challenging to articulate their feelings verbally.

Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy for Kids

Expressive Arts Therapy offers a range of benefits for children, especially those who are highly sensitive. It provides safe, structured ways to express emotions through creative outlets, reducing internal tension and promoting emotional clarity. Sensory experiences involved in art-making help children manage sensory sensitivities and enhance their understanding of different inputs.

How Expressive Arts Therapy Supports Children with Anxiety and ADHD

For children with anxiety and ADHD, creative art therapy offers a supportive environment to manage stress and improve focus. Activities like painting or music can serve as practical coping strategies, helping children develop resilience and confidence in their abilities.

Expressive Arts Therapy vs. Traditional Art Classes

Unlike traditional art classes that focus on technical skills and artistic techniques, expressive arts therapy emphasizes emotional growth and personal expression. It engages the right hemisphere of the brain, promoting empathy, emotional depth, and creativity, which are crucial for highly sensitive children.

Key Aspects of Expressive Arts Therapy

Safe Emotional Expression: Allows children to process complex emotions through creative activities like painting or writing.
Sensory Integration and Regulation: Uses various sensory experiences to help children manage and enjoy different inputs.
Building Social Connections: Fosters a sense of belonging and enhances social skills in a supportive group setting.
Enhancing Self-Esteem and Confidence: Boosts self-esteem through successful creative expression and positive feedback.
Developing Coping Strategies: Equips children with practical tools to handle overwhelming situations and manage their sensitivity.

Learn More

Psychology Today – Expressive Arts Therapy

Good Therapy – Expressive Arts Therapy

Positive Psychology – Expressive Arts Therapy

Understanding High Sensitivity, Anxiety & ADHD

Highly Sensitive Children have a unique temperament that makes them particularly aware of their environment, emotions, and sensory experiences. This heightened sensitivity allows them to process information more deeply but can also lead to challenges when their environment is overstimulating or unsupportive.

High Sensitivity

This trait means that children experience the world more intensely. They are sensitive to sensory inputs like loud noises, bright lights, or strong smells, and they may feel emotions more acutely. While high sensitivity is a natural temperament rather than a disorder, it can sometimes lead to difficulties in managing these intense experiences.

Anxiety

For highly sensitive children, anxiety can arise as a result of their heightened awareness and emotional responses. They may become easily overwhelmed by their surroundings or their own emotions, leading to excessive worry or stress. This anxiety can affect their daily functioning and overall well-being, making it challenging for them to navigate situations that feel beyond their control.

ADHD

Although ADHD is a distinct condition, it can intersect with high sensitivity. Children with ADHD often struggle with attention regulation and impulse control, which can be exacerbated by their heightened sensitivity. This combination can make it difficult for them to focus, manage their emotions, and cope with sensory overload, contributing to increased frustration and stress.

Art Therapy & High Sensitivity

Art therapy provides a valuable tool for addressing these interconnected issues. Through creative expression, children can explore and process their emotions in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Art therapy helps to manage anxiety by providing a safe outlet for feelings and promoting relaxation. It also supports children with ADHD by offering structured yet flexible activities that can improve focus and self-regulation. By integrating art therapy, we aim to harness the strengths of high sensitivity and mitigate its challenges, helping children build resilience, confidence, and emotional balance.

More Resources:

The Highly Sensitive Child – Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D.
ADHD and Children – ADDitude Magazine
Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada – About ADHD
Canadian Mental Health Association – Children and Anxiety
Kids with Anxiety Need To Know – Hey Sigmund
“Hey Warrior” A Book for Kids about Anxiety
“The Whole Brain Child” – Daniel Siegel, M.D.