Ryan Spies

Ryan Spies (she/her), is a Student Art Therapist and Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) in Ontario, supports children and youth ages 5–18, as well as parents/caregivers, through creative, relational, and developmentally responsive therapy. She works with young people experiencing anxiety, emotional dysregulation, perfectionism, grief and loss, identity concerns, school-related stress, family transitions, and difficulty expressing experiences through words alone.

Ryan's approach is client-centred, relational, trauma-informed, and systems-oriented. She understands that a child's well-being is shaped not only by their individual experiences, but also by their relationships, family system, school environment, community, and broader life circumstances. She meets each client with curiosity and compassion, honouring their pace, strengths, preferences, and unique ways of communicating.

Ryan is particularly passionate about supporting teens navigating identity development, academic pressures, anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, and significant life transitions. With an MFA in Media in Design and more than 16 years of experience teaching post-secondary art and design, she brings a deep understanding of the emotional, developmental, and creative challenges young people may encounter as they begin discovering who they are.
Adoption and permanency are also important areas of Ryan's clinical practice and ongoing research. She has completed the Adoption Council of Ontario's ACT: An Adoption and Permanency Curriculum for Child Welfare and Mental Health Professionals, further strengthening her ability to support adoptees, adoptive families, and others affected by adoption, trauma, grief, attachment disruption, identity, and belonging. Her certificate was awarded in June 2026.

Sessions may incorporate art-making, sensory exploration, caregiver collaboration, storytelling, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and grounding strategies, and are further informed by her clinical training and current thesis work at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. Ryan believes that creative expression can offer children and youth a more accessible way to explore emotions, understand patterns, strengthen regulation, and develop a more grounded sense of self. No previous art experience is needed; the focus is on the creative process rather than the finished product. Rooted in creativity, connection, and respect, Ryan helps clients develop emotional awareness, resilience, clarity, and greater trust in their own inner resources.

To learn more about working with Ryan, please contact our office.