Art therapist, ATPQ
Deniz graduated from the Microprogramme de 2e cycle en art-thérapie at l’Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT) in Tiohtià:ke/Montréal the lands and waters of Kanien’kehá:ka Nation, and from a 2.5 years master’s level graduate diploma program at WHEAT (Winnipeg Holistic Expressive Arts Therapies) institute in the Central Canadian plains on Treaty 1 Territory offering the first Indigenized therapeutic arts diploma programs in Canada. Both in-person and online, Deniz has worked with children and adults of diverse backgrounds from women who experienced domestic violence, immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers to the minority population living with HIV. She has extensive experience working with children both privately and in school settings systemically alongside parents. She works through a decolonizing, anti-oppressive, non-binary and trauma-informed lens to enhance resiliency and promote recovery, understanding that personal experiences of trauma are layered in structural intersectionalities & social inequalities. Her aim is to help clients improve their interpersonal relationships, reconnect with themselves and their communities all while using creativity. She uses a holistic person-centered approach, solution-oriented in essence and strength-based including somatic awareness and the multi-arts to counselling. Using narration as well as non-verbal expressions such as drawing, painting, movement, play and poetry helps to articulate life experiences with authenticity, fullness, specificity, structure, beauty, meaning and playfulness. Deniz can provide art therapy sessions both in English, Farsi/Persian and French.