Art therapy sessions at EMSB a win-win for both Concordia interns and schools 

Juliana Duimstra returned to elementary school last September during her year-long practicum, required as part of her two-year Master of Art Therapy program at Concordia University.  

Duimstra spent eight months at Westmount Park Elementary of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) during the 2023/2024 school year, holding weekly 45-minute one-on-one art therapy sessions with students across all grade levels. Overall, 19 students, who were recommended by the school team to participate with parental approval in this program, benefited from 13 weeks of sessions held during either the fall or winter/spring blocks.  

A second art therapy intern from Concordia simultaneously worked with students at the board’s St. Gabriel Elementary School. The Pointe St. Charles school has had a long-standing partnership with the Concordia Arts Program and is happily hosting another art therapy intern for this academic school year.  

“In our therapy, we really tailor it to what the students’ needs are,” said Duimstra. “Often, we’ll start with an open assessment, seeing what materials kids are drawn to and figure what the goals of their therapy will be. Some activities are more mindfulness-related, such as drawing your breath to visualize breathing. For others, using sensory materials, such as clay or fabrics, was really a good outlet for them to express their anger or just be present and grounded in the moment.”  

Duimstra noticed recurring symbols and imagery in students’ artwork, relating to their daily lives. While some were too young to truly understand what they were communicating through art, Duimstra says witnessing their evolution over time was incredibly powerful.  

“There were some kids who were really shy or non-verbal at the beginning, and I really saw how the art-making was making them feel comfortable,” she said. “By the end, they were sharing more with me. Some were struggling with anxiety and found tools to overcome their fears, which was really encouraging.”  

“We’re fulfilling two purposes,” said Dr. Karla Dockery, a psychologist at the EMSB, who co-supervised the two art therapy interns last year. “We’re helping to train other professionals currently going through their Master’s program, but we are also benefitting from it in that we are able to offer it to our students as well. We’re happy to partner with Concordia to do that.”  

Having graduated from Concordia in June, Duimstra is taking with her valuable practical lessons from her internship at Westmount Park Elementary School.  

“I’m really grateful that I got to work with a variety of students with different needs,” she said. “It was really beneficial to see art therapy in practice after learning the theory in school. It solidified my interest in working with children.”