About Hearten
heart-en | give heart to; to inspire with confidence, encourage; rouse to energy or enthusiasm; animate, cheer
Welcome to Hearten, a space held with intention and care!
I'm Oona McClure, a Registered Canadian Art Therapist and visual artist who understands that healing is a journey, and art becomes a gentle companion on that path.
My approach? It's deeply client-centered, meaning you are at the heart of every session. We'll navigate your journey with a trauma-informed, strength-based lens, and use somatically engaged art practices. This means we will move at your pace, honoring your experiences and the wisdom held within your body. Whether you're seeking to process past experiences, navigate current challenges, or simply rediscover your creative spark, I'm here to support you.
I've witnessed the profound shifts that occur when we create space for authentic expression, both in private sessions and through community partnerships.
Together, we will nurture your resilience, cultivate self-compassion, and create space for new possibilities to unfold.
My art supplies are ready for you – pens, paint, yarn, fabric, modeling clay, and all!
About Oona
Oona has deep respect for artistic communication and views art-making processes as enriching places for inquiry, empowerment, comfort, and relational connection.
Her education, professional experience, and comprehensive skill set bridge the spheres of arts-based therapy and community arts programming.
As founder of Hearten Art Therapy & Creative Wellness, Oona delivers engaging arts-based therapy in private practice and in partnership with local community programs. She has extensive experience facilitating groups and employing arts-based therapy to serve a wide range of clients, including those dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, attachment issues, as well as clients who identify as neurodiverse.
Oona also holds the position of Academic and Clinical Supervisor at the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy where she is actively involved in supporting emerging art therapists and contributing to the field through ongoing research.
With a profound appreciation for the power of artistic communication and a commitment to the healing arts, Oona creates an environment where every client's unique narrative is supported. She nurtures an atmosphere of confidence, resiliency, and healing where each individual can find solace, joy, and growth.
Oona is a graduate of the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute and a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (312-R-22). Oona also offers clinical supervision to students and professional art therapists in-person and online.
Oona lives in Victoria, BC on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the lək̓wəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ nations. As an immigrant and settler, she is grateful to live, learn, play, create, and raise her family on these beautiful lands.
To learn more about Oona's personal art practice, please take a peek over HERE.
Oona McClure (she/her) | BA, DVATI, RCAT