Samantha Petrella, an associate with Couple and Family Therapy Montreal, is a professional art therapist with a strong background in crisis intervention and solution-focused counselling. She has seven years’ experience in individual and group therapy in private practice, community and educational settings. She has worked with a diverse adult, youth and child population on issues such as relationship distress, immigration and displacement issues, creativity, low mood, loneliness and LGBTQIA2 issues.
Today, Samantha specializes in working with teens and children, using an attachment lens and a strength-based approach to address a variety of emotional and behavioural issues, including stress, low mood, low self-esteem, identity, family and peer conflicts and anger issues.
Art therapy is a particularly good fit for kids and teens, because the creative process bypass conscious defenses and allows young people, as well as adults, to process, explore and express difficult feelings and experiences without the limitations of words alone.
For older kids and teens who are not interested in making art, Samantha’s approach incorporates other forms of creative expression, such as Instagram, Tik Tok, photos, favourite song lyrics and more. She connects with young people through whatever is important to them, creating a therapeutic environment where they feel safe to explore and share.
Samantha provides services in English and French.
Samantha’s Professional Credentials and Memberships
- Professional Art Therapist with Quebec’s Art Therapy Association (AATQ)
- Member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA)
- M.A., Creative Arts Therapies, Concordia University
- B.F.A. with minor in Psychology, Concordia University
