Stories of Recovery
Iris
“My name is Iris, I have a diagnosis of Clinical Depression, Anxiety and P.T.S.D. At first I was very reluctant to go to The Art Studios’ program, it took me a couple of months just to be able to sign up for it. When I was called in I had doubts and tried to come up with excuses not to go. Thankfully I did go to my orientation. I was really scared not knowing what to expect, I hadn’t done any art since I was in High School, ages ago…” Read more about Iris
Mellisa
“Being connected to and a part of The Art Studios program has helped me tremendously throughout my recovery and journey to heal. I have been a member of the studios for several years now. Back when I first started as a teenager I was recognized as an agoraphobic. Attending the Youth Group was literally the only thing that motivated me enough to step outside my front door…” Read more about Mellisa
Linda
“The Art Studios has given me motivation and inspiration, to work and create independently. It has taught me skills to transfer to other areas in my life and helped me in building relationship with others. I have the opportunity to work one on one with a deaf individual and use my A.S.L. skills. It has given me a place to make art in a safe place to express myself and use my creativity…”
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Jackie
“I moved to Vancouver from Canmore AB, my home for nearly 30 years. I had friends, an incredible recovery community and good home to live in. My clinical depression had been successfully treated for about 10 years, but my daughter was in Vancouver, and we only saw each other once or twice a year, and that somehow wasn’t enough…”
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Ann
“I am an Occupational Therapist and an artist who has worked at the Art Studios since its early beginning. For twenty years I have been privileged to work with many individuals who have a mental illness and/or addiction who are artists. They did not know they were artists before they came to The Art Studios and participated in classes…”
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Colleen
“My name is Colleen.
When I was 22 years old I had my first nervous breakdown and was diagnosed as Bi-Polar, with PTSD and Anxiety. After initial bad experiences with doctors and medications, I refused to take any medication for years. And I refused to accept my diagnosis…” Read more about Colleen
Sheila
“I can remember the days when there were some O.T.s who ran some classes in printmaking, drawing, pottery and painting. But they had a big dream of having a program called “The Art Studios” where there would be a variety of different classes, run by the members for the members or the O.T.s assisted by a member. There would be a coordinator and other staff. In time it did happen…” Read more about Sheila
Yaho-Hanan
“At 56 Yaho has ‘learned’ to be content doing his art. Since 2007 he has participated in many classes, workshops and open studios at The Art Studios. With fond memories of art classes of old, he had a lot of pleasure working with the various Occupational Therapists and Rehab Therapists of The Art Studios in and out of these classes…”
Read more about Yaho-Hanan