Abode Therapy and
Expressive Arts
Counselling Coaching Workshops Retreats
I didn't trust it for a moment, but I drank it anyway,
the wine of my own poetry.
It gave me the daring to take hold of the darkness and tear it down and cut it into little pieces.
Lalla, 14th Century Mystic
My trust in expressive writing and the creative
arts is personal.
After a healing transformation in my own life, I am called to support others through expressive writing and creative arts. A few years ago, during my father's terminal illness, writing poetry served as a miraculous gift. It helped me to connect in ways that I couldn't have imagined to deeper and unknown parts of myself. This connection has sustained me in an astonishing way.
My background
I hold a BA in Modern Languages, as well as a BScN in Nursing and an MSN (Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner specialization). I have worked for over 30 years in clinical health sciences, including inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. I have worked as an advanced practice mental health nurse in Canada and as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the USA and Germany. I taught health science courses for several universities, including Trent University and the University of Colorado.
My approach is existentially-based and inspired by the work of C.G. Jung, D.W. Winnicott and Victor Frankl. I am experienced in psychodynamic therapy and receive ongoing training through Jungian focused programs at the Centre of Applied Jungian Studies, the JUNG Archademy, the London Arts-Based Research Centre, the Jung Society of Washington and other Jungian centres. I have completed Duke Health's Leading Others in Writing for Health program as well as numerous National Association for Poetry Therapy courses. I follow closely the work of the poet David Whyte through his ongoing poetic and philosophical seminars. I am a writing facilitator for the Writers Collective of Canada.
Motivated by my own healing through expressive writing, I have stepped away from the traditional medical model of practice. I aim to work therapeutically alongside my clients using expressive writing and creative arts as a transformative and restorative process.
I founded Abode Therapy and Expressive Arts with the trust that expressive writing and creative arts nurture wellbeing and lift the human spirit.
Kathryn Taylor BA, BScN, MSN
Poet, Therapist, Writing Facilitator, Coach
Based in Ontario, Canada