Erica Hirschfeld is a Professional Art Therapist with the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) and a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BC-ACC). Erica received her Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Psychology from the University of Ottawa, Ontario, and her Masters in Art Therapy from the University of Chester in Chester, England.

Erica is beginning her career with a focus on adolescent and adult mental health and trauma recovery. Erica has experience working with a range of individuals including adolescents and youths with developmental and learning difficulties in education settings, adoption and foster care, and developmental trauma; and adults coping with chronic conditions, and survivors of domestic abuse and trauma.

As an art therapist, Erica believes in the power of art to help transform how we see the world and communicate with each other. At times it can be hard to find the words to describe our thoughts, feelings, or experiences, using art materials and creating imagery can help us make sense of those things and facilitate communication both with ourselves and with others. Art therapy facilitates self-exploration, understanding and empowerment through the combination of creative art making and psychotherapy. Using art materials can engage the senses and help to calm the nervous system allowing you to explore difficult experiences, develop communication and coping strategies.

Erica takes a trauma-informed and person-centered approach to therapy and strives to create a supportive and non-judgemental space for you to explore and express your experiences. The images or objects created in art therapy reflect your own personal visual language and the aim is to help you decipher and explore what they mean to you. Professionally Erica continues to explore and deepen her understanding different modalities including, polyvagal therapy, international family systems, and somatic experiencing.

Erica is new to the Okanagan, moving to British Columbia from Ontario in October 2020. Since arriving Erica has enjoyed exploring the BC landscape spending lots of time near the lakes and mountains. In her free time Erica enjoys various self-care activities including yoga, kickboxing, baking and painting,