Ginkgo Centre for Creative Arts Therapies

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Ginkgo Centre for Creative Arts Therapies

Our services art offered in both English, French and Farsi.

Ginkgo Centre for Creative Arts Therapies currently provides virtual counselling, psychotherapy and art therapy services to adults of all ages living in Ontario.

02/09/2026

Ginkgo is pleased to announce a new therapy group starting soon : Here I Am 🌿

Here I Am is a confidential, therapist-facilitated support group for adults who are exploring, questioning, or affirming their sexual identity later in life. The group offers a structured and supportive environment to reflect on personal experiences, connect with others facing similar questions, and explore identity with care and self-compassion.

Details
Twice monthly — Second and last Wednesday of each month * starts on March 25th, 2026
7:00–8:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Online

Fee
$25 per session
Sliding scale available

Registration: https://www.ginkgotherapies.com/therapy-group

The group will be facilitated by:
Ramak Jaberizadeh (she/her) Registered Psychotherapist. Ramak is a bicultural therapist, born in Iran and raised in Toronto after her family arrived as refugees. That early experience continues to inspire her commitment to supporting people who have experienced displacement and marginalization. She is dedicated to nurturing relationships grounded in safety, trust, and curiosity, because when we feel truly seen and secure, deep healing and growth become possible. Her work is guided by values of connection, collaboration, and resilience.

For more information, contact us info@ginkgotherapies.com or visit our “Group workshops” page - www.ginkgotherapies.com

02/05/2026

One Image, A Thousand Meanings

Take a moment to pause and observe.
What stands out to you first?
What feeling, memory, or story comes up?

Share in the comments — a word, a sentence, or a mood.
There’s no right or wrong way to see it.

⸻

Une image, mille récit

Prenez un moment pour observer.
Qu’est-ce qui attire d’abord votre attention?
Quelle émotion, souvenir ou histoire émerge?

Partagez en commentaire — un mot, une phrase ou une ambiance.
Il n’y a pas de bonne ou de mauvaise réponse.
workshop psychology

02/02/2026

Where the paint settled. Finding beauty in plates left with traces of color.
# abstract

01/23/2026

We’re feeling so grateful and energized after hosting a drop-in art therapy workshop for Algonquin College students last Wednesday 💛

It was such a privilege to create a welcoming space where students could pause, explore, and express themselves through art — no pressure, just presence and creativity. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared the space, and made the afternoon so meaningful.

We’re excited to share a few moments captured during the workshop ✨
Art has a beautiful way of bringing people together, and we’re thankful to have been part of that experience on campus.
Nous nous sentons profondément reconnaissantes et remplis d’énergie après avoir animé un atelier d’art-thérapie en formule libre (drop-in) pour les étudiant·es du Collège Algonquin mercredi dernier 💛

Ce fut un réel privilège de créer un espace accueillant où les étudiant·es ont pu prendre une pause, explorer et s’exprimer à travers l’art — sans pression, simplement dans la présence et la créativité. Merci à toutes les personnes qui sont passées, ont partagé ce moment et ont contribué à rendre cette expérience si significative.

Nous sommes heureuses de partager quelques images captées lors de l’atelier ✨
L’art a ce pouvoir unique de rassembler, et nous sommes reconnaissantes d’avoir pu vivre ce moment sur le campus.
therapy workshop psychology mentalhealthmatters stressed stressrelief burnedout anxietyhelp therapist mindfulness therapyworks mentalwellness mentalhealthawareness creativetherapy innerpeace mindbodysoul therapeuticart artisticexpression mentalresilience

12/03/2025

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁?

Join us tonight for a free peer consultation where Paul Hay, Registered Psychotherapist (qualifying) talks to us about « Exploring a Neuroaffirming Approach to Therapy »

Link to register: www.ginkgotherapies.com/sign-up-peer

Looking forward to see you!
Ginkgo team 🌿

11/21/2025

Audrey-Anne just finished Your Brain on Art and honestly, it reminded her why she fell in love with the healing power of creativity in the first place. 💛🎨

This book by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross is a beautiful blend of science and wonder. It dives into how the arts—whether through painting, music, movement, or even the spaces we inhabit—literally transform our brains and bodies. The authors make neuroscience feel accessible and inspiring, showing how creativity isn’t just “nice to have,” but essential for well-being, connection, learning, and resilience.

If you’re curious about why making art feels so grounding, how beauty impacts our nervous system, or why creative expression can be so powerful in therapy, this book is a gem. It’s filled with research, practical examples, and reflections that speak directly to anyone who believes (or wants to believe!) that the arts truly change us.

Highly recommend for therapists, educators, parents… and honestly anyone who wants to live a more vibrant, intentional, and creatively engaged life.

11/11/2025

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙤?

It’s not just about making art.
An art therapist is a trained and accredited professional (M.A., ATPQ) who offers a safe and supportive space where creative expression becomes a language of its own.

Through the art-making process, clients explore, discover, and give form to what words cannot always express. Bit by bit, this process can lead to greater self-awareness and positive change.

In art therapy, every line and colour can become a doorway to yourself.
𝙌𝙪’𝙚𝙨𝙩-𝙘𝙚 𝙦𝙪’𝙪𝙣·𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩-𝙩𝙝é𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙩, 𝙖𝙪 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙚?

Ce n’est pas simplement « faire de l’art ».
L’art-thérapeute est un·e professionnel·le formé·e et accrédité·e (M.A., ATPQ) qui offre un espace sécuritaire et bienveillant où l’expression créative devient un langage en soi.

À travers la création, la personne explore, se découvre et donne forme à ce que les mots n’arrivent pas toujours à exprimer. Peu à peu, ce processus favorise une plus grande conscience de soi et un changement positif.

En art-thérapie, chaque trait et chaque couleur peuvent devenir une porte vers soi.

10/30/2025

🌿 New at Ginkgo! 🌿

We’re excited to launch our Peer Consultation Group — a monthly space for creative arts therapists, psychotherapists and counsellors to reflect on their practice, exchange perspectives, and support one another.

🗓 First session: Wednesday, November 5th, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM
📍 Online (link provided upon registration)
🌀 Held monthly

What to expect:
Participants bring clinical or professional situations for discussion. Together, we explore themes such as boundaries, ethics, self-care, and creative process. The format emphasizes shared reflection, confidentiality, and mutual respect.

💡 Please note: peer consultation is a collaborative learning space and does not replace formal clinical supervision.

✨ Join us in cultivating reflection, connection, and professional growth within a supportive community.

👉 To register, link in bio. To learn more, contact info@ginkgotherapies.com

10/15/2025

🌷 New Workshop Announcement! 🌷

We’re excited to invite you to our new virtual group workshop: Living Your Values — Identifying What Matters and Putting It into Action.

In this gentle and interactive 90-minute session, you’ll be guided to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters to you. Through meaningful conversation and simple hands-on activities, you’ll explore your core values—what inspires, grounds, and guides you—and learn how to bring them more fully into your daily life.

✨ Together, we’ll:
• Discover how values can support wellbeing and direction
• Explore ways to make decisions that feel aligned and authentic
• Nurture motivation, purpose, and resilience

Led by an experienced Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), this workshop offers a supportive space to reflect, share, and grow—at your own pace and from the comfort of your home.

For more information or to register: follow the link in bio

09/26/2025

✨𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙨, 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙨𝙮𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨!

We’re launching a brand-new 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 🎉 — a space to connect, share, brainstorm, and support one another in our work.

But before we set it in motion, we'd love to know which days and times would work best with your schedule!

We’ve created a super quick 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 (promise, it takes just a minute) so you can let us know your preferences. Your feedback will help us shape a group that works for everyone.

𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 = community, creativity, and collaboration. Let’s make this space together.

Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/9V89Hi4YjisZDDQk8

We can’t wait to see you there! 💙

09/18/2025

One of the mots common comment we receive as an art therapist is “Oh I couldn’t do art therapy… I can only draw stick figures”.

Here’s the truth : Art therapy isn’t about creating a masterpiece. It’s about expression, connection, and discovery.

Stick figures, scribbles, messy colors, abstract shapes—all of it is welcome. In fact, sometimes the simplest marks hold the deepest meaning.

Art therapy isn’t an art class. There are no grades, no “good” or “bad” drawings—only your unique way of exploring what’s inside.

So yes, your stick figures are more than enough. They might even surprise you.
L’un des commentaires qu’on reçoit le plus souvent comme art-thérapeutes, c’est :
« Ah, je ne pourrais jamais faire d’art-thérapie… je ne sais dessiner que des bonhommes allumettes. »

La vérité : L’art-thérapie n’a rien à voir avec la création d’un chef-d’œuvre. Elle porte sur l’expression, la connexion et la découverte.

Bonhommes allumettes, gribouillis, couleurs qui débordent, formes abstraites… tout est bienvenu. En fait, ce sont parfois les traces les plus simples qui révèlent le plus de sens.

L’art-thérapie n’est pas un cours de dessin. Il n’y a pas de notes, pas de « bons » ou de « mauvais » dessins—juste ta façon unique d’explorer ce que tu portes en toi.

Alors oui, tes bonhommes allumettes sont amplement suffisants. Ils pourraient même te surprendre.

06/20/2025

Meet Ramak ✨

𝐀 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐞:

I’m a bicultural therapist, born in Iran and raised in Toronto after my family arrived as refugees. That early experience continues to inspire my commitment to supporting people who have experienced displacement and marginalization. I’m dedicated to nurturing relationships grounded in safety, trust, and curiosity, because when we feel truly seen and secure, deep healing and growth become possible. My work is guided by values of connection, collaboration, and resilience.

𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞:

I support youth and adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, grief, major life transitions, relationship challenges, identity exploration, and the impacts of trauma. My background includes work with LGBTQIA+ individuals, newcomers, and children, youth, and caregivers involved in the foster care system.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡:

Applying feminist, intersectional, and strengths-based frameworks, I draw from evidence-based therapies such as narrative therapy, CBT, and solution-focused approaches to tailor each session to your unique experiences and goals. You are the expert on your life—my role is to support you in reconnecting with your inner wisdom and strengths.

Address

Ottawa, ON
K2P2N2

Website

https://ginkgotherapies.com/

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