Melinda Van Arenthals, a Certified Art Therapist in London Ontarioin

Melinda Van Arenthals

Registered Psychotherapist

Certified Art Therapist

B.A.

D.VATI

About Me

My love for art began at a very young age and I knew for quite some time that I wanted to pursue a career in Art Therapy in London, Ontario. I attended the University of Guelph for a major in Studio Art and a minor in Family Child Studies. I then applied to the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute and completed a 15 month diploma program to earn my certificate as a Certified Art Therapist. I am also a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. Through my time at VATI, I completed various practicums where I worked with children, adolescents, and seniors who had experienced grief, loss, trauma, and anxiety.

A yellow chair with a book and a pillow on it

During my practicums for VATI, I had the opportunity to work with children and was inspired by their ability to express themselves through art. The Art Therapy room became a safe space for them to explore their emotions and process grief, trauma, bullying, and fear. Today, I mainly work with children and adolescents to help them overcome difficult emotions and develop coping strategies. In the future, I hope to propose an Art Therapy program in elementary schools that is easily accessible to children, providing them with the support they need to process challenging life events. To learn the benefits of Art Therapy for children, click the link below.

Art therapy in London Ontario commonly includes paints like the brushes pictured here

As an Art Therapist in London, Ontario, I bring empathy and understanding to each session. I am committed to educating myself on the most up-to-date and accurate information pertaining to Art Therapy. I am a member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) which is a wonderful community that is devoted to the profession of Art Therapy. It ensures that each member is being held to the highest ethical and professional standards.

Pieces of nature, like the leaves pictured here, can be implemented into an art therapy in London Ontario sessio

Expertise


  • Trauma-informed lens, specifically how trauma affects children

  • Anxiety

  • Self-Regulation and Coping Skills

  • Stress

  • Fatigue

  • Loneliness

  • Grief and Loss

  • School Issues

  • Helping children/teens navigate divorce

  • Self-Esteem

A book, mug, and candles

Psychotherapy Modalities

  • Art Therapy

  • Trauma-Informed

  • Mindfulness

  • Somatic

  • ACT

  • Narrative

  • Internal Family Systems

Three honey bees, which is what this art therapist in London Ontario named her business after

If you are curious as to how I chose my business name, I will let you in on a fun fact! The first part of my name “Mel” means honey or honeybee. This inspired the name, along with the fact that I love honeybees as they are so vital to our ecosystem. They are small but mighty.