Heather Caruso

Heather Caruso is a registered Canadian art therapist (RCAT) and registered psychotherapist (RP) who offers in-person and online art therapy for adults. She offers one-on-one and group art therapy. Insurance plans may cover a psychotherapist, check your policy. 

You may be searching for help because you are experiencing emotional challenges and need to process something bothering you now or from your past. You may have had long-term mental health issues, or are searching for help with stress, anxiety, depression, big life changes and/or traumatic experiences. You may be fed up with feeling down, burnt out and want to reign in negative thoughts and emotions. I know first hand, it is really hard wading through this all alone.

Would you like to work on these issues in a unique, gentle and creative way? Doing art therapy with me helps when words fail. You don’t need to be artistic to participate. If you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry, I will be with you every step of the way.

Hello, I’m Heather Caruso, of Art Therapy Guelph, an Artist, Registered Canadian Art Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist. I offer a comforting and safe space to work through and explore your emotions, life changes and negative experiences. Together we will use a combination of creative artmaking and psychotherapy to help you achieve your goals.

My main focus with clients is to support and honour their individuality, values and unique needs in a safe and non-judgmental way. I collaborate with clients on how to reach their goals, at their pace. My belief is that each person, regardless of their limitations or negative life experiences, is capable of positive growth with the right tools. These tools may be learning how and when to implement coping methods, developing self-compassion and healthy intuition, processing traumatic events and discovering how to express one’s needs in a healthy way. I am blessed to work together with people to process the darkness of the past to paint a brighter future.

More about me:

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:

• Mature women
• Individuals
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief
• Life transitions
• Narcissistic abuse
• Perfectionism
• Self Esteem
• Stress
• Trauma and PTSD
• 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. Reach out today.