Heather Caruso offers psychotherapy and art therapy services to adults, children and teens, online and in person, serving Guelph, Cambridge, and Kitchener Waterloo area.
Hi, thank you for checking out my website! I’m Heather Caruso, a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT) and Registered Psychotherapist (RP), and the owner of Art Therapy Guelph. I am also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Grief Informed Professional and a Narcissistic Abuse Treatment Clinician. I'm a mature woman, proud Mom of two boys and two fur babies. I am humble, warm, personable, funny and straightforward. I love love love art. I love making, looking at, and talking about art, always have. My clients tell me they love that I am down to earth and that they feel supported and accepted. I am a real and genuine person.
I graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honors Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a degree in Art History and Studio Art in 1993, and from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute with a diploma in Art Therapy in 2020. I am a member of the CRPO, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, and the OATA and CATA, the Ontario and Canadian Art Therapy Association.
I have taken many art therapy courses since graduation such as nature, mindfulness, restorative attachment, grief, sensorimotor and trauma art therapy. I have also completed courses in general psychotherapy on anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment, and abuse and art making techniques. I have a certificate in cbt, dbt, mindfulness, narcissistic abuse treatment clinician, grief therapy and trauma counselling.
I have a special interest in trauma work, and have done many advanced trainings in trauma therapy. For example, I have received certificates and/or trainings in:
- trauma counselling for mental health professionals
- intensive trauma treatment
- trauma informed culturally responsive expressive arts
- integrated complex trauma treatments
- narcissistic abuse treatment
- healing trauma with guided drawing
- bilateral stimulation, emdr and art therapy
- restorative embodiment and expressive arts therapy
- restorative attachment and expressive arts therapy
Although I am a psychotherapist, my focus in sessions is more related to creative artmaking in conjunction with other psychotherapy tools. I identify as an art therapist, with less on talk therapy. The art is a means for self discovery, exploration, expression, understanding and soothing. It enhances creative expression, discussion and supports people in a way that is gentle, effective and fun.
My areas of interest are:
- Children, teens and adults
- Mature women
- Individuals
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Life transitions
- Narcissistic abuse
- Perfectionism
- Self Esteem
- Stress
- Trauma
- Post traumatic stress
I have personally experienced and continue to witness art therapy's gentle transformational powers. During my training to become an art therapist, our instructors suggested we all do our own work. I did and I gained a deeper understanding and acceptance of myself. My self-esteem and self-compassion increased by 100%. Art therapy was liberating and transformational. It changed me for the better. I could see a positive path ahead of me. I feel blessed and grateful to be able to share my gifts with others. My hope is that together, my clients and I will process the darkness of their past and paint a brighter future.
Want more information? Art Therapy Guelph offers a complimentary 15 minute chat where you can ask questions about what we do and see if it is a good fit. Fill in the information below and Art Therapy Guelph will reach out soon.