30 min. Complimentary First Session
Individual Art Therapy and Counselling
For Children, Youth, and Adults
Shift Life in a Positive Direction
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Health Psychology
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Pastoral Counselling
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Disability Advocacy and Counselling
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Parent/Child Relationships
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Therapy for Persons with Intellectual Disability
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Attachment Therapy
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Grief Counselling
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Anxiety, Depression, PTSD Treatment
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Self-Esteem Building
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Adjusting to Temporary and Chronic Illness
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Pain Management
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Positive Psychology
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Solution-Focussed Therapy
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Life after Suicide Loss
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End-of-Life Counselling
Office in Spring Lake, AB. Online sessions available.
Parents attend with Children 15 and younger
Sessions starting at $25
Complimentary 20 min. intake session
Welcome
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About Positive Shift
Positive Shift began as a way to help people with disabilities and chronic illness adjust to life, remove internal barriers to success, make positive changes, create effective plans, and find resources to create a fulfilling, happy life.
After completing university in Spiritually Informed Psychotherapy and Art Therapy the vision grew to include people having a tough time with everyday life. People who just need a little help reducing the effects of anxiety, depression, setting boundaries to make their work and home lives better, and the courage to use their voice while standing competently in their truth.
During the 7 years I studied Expressive Arts Therapy I hosted groups in shelters, facilitated weekend retreats, and learned to work with people just as they are. When people are in crisis they don't need insight, they need a soft place to land, a genuine welcome, and art settles the chaos.
“Art was made to overcome chaos.”
Don Jones.
Meet Wesdyne
Art Therapy, Writer, Disability Advocate
Hi, welcome to Positive Shift. I'm Wesdyne, pronounced Wes-Dean. I am a disabled art therapist and counselor.
Let me help you recreate your life after an illness diagnosis, change in health, or loss. Perhaps you want to start living a life that feels more comfortable like Sundays in pyjamas. Maybe you desire less conflict and more laughter. A life that excites you, makes the most of your abilities. Perhaps you are looking to reduce your physical and psychological pain. You might have a child who is struggling to love themselves the way you love them. I help people do all those things and more.
My husband and I live in rural Alberta. I enjoy talking to my dog, giggling with friends, writing kids' stories, and posting silly things on Facebook. Seriously, my facebook page is ridiculous. https://www.facebook.com/wesdyne
The studio office:
a blue cabin in the woods
The office and workshop site is a small, blue, rustic cabin.
Women's art parties happen on the deck, under the canopy.
Walk and talk in the large meadow at the foot of the cabin.
Listen to the loons, blackbirds and birds on the lake just beyond the meadow.
Frogs in the fen serenade you.
Wind rustles the leave of the poplar, aspen, and birch trees.
For seven years, this unplumbed cabin was my home away from home.
Now it is a studio office.
Qualifications
I am an associate member of the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Organization and the Canadian Art Therapy Association. I am in the process of registering as a Therapeutic Counsellor with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada.
Education
2017
Master's Dip. Art Therapy
St. Stephen's College
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Research Methodologies, Art Therapy, Parent/Child Art Therapy, Documentation
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350 hours of direct client contact
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75 hours of supervision (individual and group)
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Guthrie School, Chrysalis Society, and Hosanna Lutheran Church,
2017
Master's Dip. Counselling
St. Stephen's College
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Professional Ethics, Counselling Methods, Models of Therapy, Life Span Theory, Abnormal Psychology
2011-2018
Expressive Arts Therapy
World Arts Organization
2007-2018
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Expressive Arts Therapy Methods, Expressive Arts Theory
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150 hours of direct client contact
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50 hours supervision (individual and group)
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Inner City Pastoral Ministry, Boyle Street Warming Shelter, Hosanna Lutheran Church
2001
Bachelor of Education
University of Alberta
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Art and Social Studies
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Taught 7/8 split at Paul First Nation
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Sub for Parkland and Sturgeon School Districts
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French as a Second Language
1998
Bachelor of Art & Design
University of Alberta
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Painting, Art History
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Art Educator for Art Gallery of Alberta and Gallery @501 (8 years)
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Community art classes for elementary children (5 years)
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Shows Art for the Living (2 years), UA summer landscape show
Contact Wesdyne Otto
Address
632 Lakeside Point,
Spring Lake, Alberta
T7Z 2T5
Text or Call
780-271-0675
Opening Hours
Mon - Thurs
10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturdays
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
About the Logo
I designed this when I was figuring out what Positive Shift does.
I began with the yin-yang symbol to represent balance.
The centre is the infinity symbol referring to balance is most helpful when we are dancing or walking. It is knowing that we grow deep roots and branches that reach towards the future.
The dots are off-centre to show the difference between what seems to be going on and how the body and mind respond to it.
My husband pointed out that the logo is two doves - the peace that is contained in life is ever present, even when we are not aware of it being with us.