I’m Ania Telfer, a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC), professional artist, expressive arts facilitator, and founder of Art Can Rescue the World. I hold a Master of Counselling from City University of Seattle and a Graduate Certificate in Spiritually Integrated Expressive Arts from St. Stephen’s College.

With over two decades of experience in arts-based learning, creative facilitation, and interdisciplinary art practice, I believe creativity is a powerful pathway for self-expression, connection, healing, and transformation. My work brings together art therapy, expressive arts, counselling, mindfulness, somatic approaches, and creative exploration to support children, youth, adults, communities, and organizations.

As a professional artist, my interdisciplinary practice includes painting, photography, installation, performance, multimedia, and collaborative arts experiences. I am a recipient of an individual Canada Council for the Arts grant (2026), as well as Edmonton Arts Council grants (2019 and 2023). My artwork has been exhibited in galleries, public spaces, and community settings, exploring themes of creativity, spirituality, healing, human connection, and personal transformation.

Beyond individual art therapy counselling, I design and facilitate expressive arts workshops, community programs, professional development experiences, and keynote presentations exploring creativity, mental health, resilience, and the transformative potential of art. I have facilitated programs for schools, libraries, universities, community organizations, and professional groups.

I have presented and taught on the intersection of art, healing, trauma, and mental health, including a guest lecture at Concordia University of Edmonton for counselling students focused on trauma, PTSD, moral injury, and hands-on expressive arts practices.

My therapeutic and creative work is informed by trauma-informed, attachment-based, somatic, mindfulness-based, and narrative approaches. I am also an Equusoma® Level 1 Student Practitioner, exploring equine-assisted experiential approaches that support connection, awareness, and embodied learning.

Through Art Can Rescue the World, I invite individuals and communities to rediscover creativity, curiosity, and joy—using art as a pathway toward deeper self-understanding, connection, and possibility.