Meet your Art Therapist

Meet your Art Therapist

Jennifer Hakola

After completing her degree in Fine Arts from York University, Jen went on to study art therapy in Nelson, BC. Combining her love of art making and psychology was the perfect fit for her to fulfill her dreams of bringing change to community through creative action.

She studied at the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute with the mentorship of Canadian Art Therapist Monica Carpendale where Jen gained an appreciation for the subtle, the sublime, and every way of being in between. Finding an interest in working with seniors and people who had suffered traumatic brain injuries allowed for opportunity to study the significance of the symbolic in language and the power of the metaphors we live by. Jen has been inspired by her work as an art therapist in the West Kootenay community with children and adults particularly exploring our internal narratives.

For the past 20 years, Jen has also continued to be connected with the field of art therapy adult education both in an administrative role as Registrar and more recently in program delivery as Faculty and Supervisor. She enjoys supporting the students in following their dreams and achieving their goals of becoming art therapists.

Jen has completed a Masters degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in which she has learning how to connect the fields of education, anthropology, Indigenous approaches to learning and research, and writing. Her current research is finding new ways of connecting creativity with transformative approaches in education through arts-based learning.

Finding creative solutions is Jen’s favourite way to approach challenges; if it can involve art making, even better!

What Jen Offers

Jennifer offers a diverse range of art therapy services tailored to various needs.